German train operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) has begun rolling out passenger Wi-Fi services on its regional train network. The first four trains to be kitted out are in the North Rhine-Westphalia area. Up until now, Deutsche Bahn had restricted on-train Wi-Fi services to its high-speed ICE fleet.

The train company has also launched pilot schemes aimed at testing Wi-Fi on trains and other local transport services. At the same time, some of Deutsche Bahn’s competitors in the regional market have started trialling Wi-Fi on board services. The largest of these is in Westfalenbahn which has fitted out 28 of its trains with Wi-Fi.

Back in 2014, local transport operator Zweckverband Großraum GMBH (ZBG), signed up Nomad Digital to supply passenger Wi-Fi on 20 new Alstom trains it had ordered. The kit went on the new rolling stock supplied by Alstom to the regional transport planner.

Icomera supplies on-board Internet connectivity for passengers on Deutsche Bahn’s extensive fleet of long distance ICE trains. According to the Swedish-based technology company, its contract covers all 259 ICE trains currently in operation, plus a further 130 which are on order. The ICE trains, which come in four different iterations, are the flagships of DB’s extensive armada of rolling stock.

This year’s Wi-Fi on Trains Conference hosted by BWCS in London in June, will feature presentations on the launch of Wi-Fi on both DB Regio and DB’s high-speed ICE fleet. The Conference will cover the expanding market for on-board Wi-Fi services as well as the problems of intermittent mobile coverage, proposed trackside solutions and other issues.

For more information, please use the online order form at the Train Comms website or contact Ross Parsons at BWCS.

This year’s Train Communications System Conference is sponsored by Icomera (Gold), Nomad Digital (Silver), Fluidmesh (Bronze), 21Net (Cocktails), LetsJoin (Lunch Day 1) and RADWIN (Lunch Day 2).

BWCS is also in touch with a couple of luminaries of the Wi-Fi on Trains world who are currently looking for new challenges, anyone interested in hearing more should contact us using the enquiry form below.