Half a million users log on to GNER WiFi

Work is most popular pastime, says train operator's research

WiFi has proven popular with GNER passengers

More than 500,000 passengers have logged on to train operator GNER’s WiFi service since it launched last year, with 85 per cent using it for business purposes.

Research from the company says monthly usage has increased by 77 per cent since it became the first UK train firm to roll WiFi out across its fleet, with online shopping, booking holidays and surfing the net other popular uses,

But working on the go proved most popular with business travellers, with passengers travelling to and from York (74 per cent) and the East Midlands (90 per cent) most likely to work and check emails on the train.

‘It is great to see that GNER travellers are embracing the digital revolution and using WiFi for different purposes,’ said GNER head of communications Alan Hyde.

Almost one in ten (eight per cent) of WiFi users researched their destination with the service and a fifth used it to research general travel information.

GNER completed the installation of wireless technology on 30 electric trains and 11 diesel trains last year (Computing, 27 October 2007). The £3.2m project was completed more than six months ahead of schedule.