In an effort to enhance its service by offering consistent WiFi (News 
- Alert) service to millions of commuters using its network, First Great Western, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup has reportedly invested in the enhancement of the WiFi network across 23 of its stations. The service is facilitated by UK public access WiFi provider, The Cloud.
As a part of this initiative, the rail company is providing free WiFi access to the 23 busy stations along its route. The contract with Cloud also extends the WiFi network across ten other busy stations, including Bristol, Reading and Bath. The WiFi will be available on station platforms, concourses and in waiting rooms. Millions of passengers are expected to benefit from the service, which is scheduled to commence from the next month, the officials revealed in a press release.
The installations introduce WiFi to 13 stations across First Great Western routes - including Oxford, Ealing Broadway and Maidenhead. The passengers are expected to enjoy a fast internet connection that would allow them to use their mobile devices for diverse purposes ranging from getting travel information and checking E-mails to media streaming for some quick entertainment on-the-go.
“Travellers now expect to be able to access the internet wherever they are, especially to pass the time during their commutes. The popularity of WiFi as seen in stations with existing connectivity made the decision to expand and upgrade a very easy one to make,” First Great Western Station Contracts Manager Robert Jackson noted in a statement.
First Great Western carries more than 90 million passengers every year across the Greater Western rail franchise area, which includes South Wales, the Westcountry, the Cotswolds, and large parts of Southern England. With the upgrading of WiFi network along the route, millions of extra travelers will be able to use The Cloud's WiFi service as they use First Great Western’s high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services.
“Millions of people received smartphones, tablets and e-readers for Christmas and will want to make the most of them on their commute. WiFi provides an excellent and consistent connection which, as many travellers will recognize, is not always possible when travelling across the country. This new deal with First Great Western will mean millions of extra travelers will benefit from The Cloud's WiFi service,” managing director at The Cloud Vince Russell said in a statement.
It will be worthwhile to mention here that The Cloud, a subsidiary of BSkyB (News - Alert) Group, connects approximately one million devices to its WiFi network each month at Pret, Eat, pubs, leisure facilities, restaurants and mainline stations.
Edited by
Amanda Ciccatelli
