Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking with train operators to help facilitate a consistent availability of wi-fi on trains; and if he will make a statement.

DfT-franchised train operators are currently required, through their franchise agreements, to provide free passenger Wi-Fi on trains. In some cases, the train operators have also partnered with one or more mobile operators to improve the trackside coverage helping deliver a more consistent Wi-Fi service.

However, our railways are currently not financially sustainable and the Department has asked rail operators to provide the commercial case for retaining passenger facing Wi-Fi. A decision will be taken on a case by case basis once the responses have been analysed by the Department.