Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of internet connectivity on long-distance rail services between Scotland and London.

An assessment was carried out as part of the spending review business case. This determined the Low Earth Orbit approach on all mainlines.

As a result of the spending review, we secured funding to deliver low earth orbit satellite technology on all mainline trains to improve on train passenger wifi. This will include services between London and Scotland such as LNER and Avanti West Coast.

However, we know satellite connectivity will not work in tunnels. The Department has also been working with Network Rail to deliver improved connectivity on the rail network. Project Reach, which will renew fibre optic cables and address 4G / 5G mobile signals in 57 key mainline tunnels and stations was signed 26 June 2025 between Network Rail, and telecoms companies, Neos Networks and Freshwave. Once the mobile operators are signed up, passengers will see a boost in their mobile connection in these tunnels.