Train operators from across Europe, the Middle East and the US will gather in London next month to share their wireless know-how at Train Communications Systems 2012. Hosted by transport and wireless consultancy BWCS, the conference will examine the issues associated with launching new broadband services to and from trains.

"Train operators are beginning to feel the cold breath of competition on the backs of their necks and these new services give them something to fight back with," argues Graham Wilde, CEO of BWCS.

"This market is experiencing a double push as the technology improves and the demand increases. The reality is that these new services offer train companies an attractive combination of new cost-saving applications as well as new, passenger-winning, income-generating, entertainment services for travellers."

BWCS, which has worked with many of the leading operators on the development and procurement of WiFi on train services, will host a series of presentations by the leading rail companies on 13 and 14 June.

Wilde reflected that almost every train operator worth its salt will be at the conference, either presenting or attending: "We feel this is a great opportunity for all of us to learn from their successes and occasional failures, as well as to hear reports on progress from trials of new systems and services, straight from the horses’ mouths."

Among those presenting at Train Communications Systems 2012 will be Egypt Rail, Hungarian Rail, Russian Railways, Danish Railways, Finnish Rail, NTV Italy, Bay Area Rapid Transit and many more.

Over two days, a combination of interactive workshops, panel sessions, presentations and networking sessions will explore the commercial and technical issues arising from the deployment of train WiFi around the world, as well as other newer applications developed as wireless broadband on trains becomes a reality.

Train Communications 2012 will be held in central London on the 13th and 14th of June 2012.