New deal to end mobile dead spots on UK trains

Commuters will soon be able to work and stay connected with loved ones as part of a landmark deal to eliminate mobile blackspots on key routes between London, Manchester, Newcastle and Cardiff, the Department for Transport has announced.

The deal, named Project Reach, was signed on Thursday (26 June) between Network Rail and telecoms companies, Neos Networks and Freshwave.

The commercial model brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure and is expected to save taxpayers around £300 million while creating a high-performing digital connectivity backbone for businesses, supporting the UK’s digital ambitions.

Project Reach will initially see Neos Networks deploy 1,000 kilometres of ultra-fast fibre optic cable along the East Coast Main Line, parts of the West Coast Main Line and the Great Western Main Line, with the ambition to expand beyond 5,000 kilometres soon.

In addition to this, Freshwave will tackle signal blackspots in 57 tunnels, covering almost 50 kilometres, including the four-kilometre-long Chipping Sodbury tunnel near Bristol.

As part of the deal, mobile network operators will also invest in new 4G/5G infrastructure at 12 of the biggest Network Rail stations across the country, including:

Birmingham New St;

Bristol Temple Meads;
Edinburgh Waverley;
Euston;
Glasgow Central;
King’s Cross;
Leeds;
Liverpool Lime Street;
Liverpool Street;
Manchester Piccadilly;
Paddington;
Waterloo.

The Department for Transport noted that this is a multi-year project with the first installation of mobile infrastructure expected to begin in 2026 and be fully rolled out by 2028.

The enhanced network will also enable better monitoring of railway assets and facilitate new technologies that rely on improved connectivity, paving the way for more reliable train services and improved safety for railway workers.

“This is a game changer for passengers up and down the country and will revolutionise journeys from Paddington to Penzance and Edinburgh to Euston,” said Heidi Alexander (Secretary of State for Transport)

“By boosting connectivity and tackling signal blackspots, we are also ensuring a more reliable and efficient service. This means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader Plan for Change goals of economic growth and digital innovation,” she said.