UK-based rail operator Virgin Trains has equipped its Pendolino fleet with Wi-Fi systems to offer passengers free internet connectivity.
The move included equipping 56 Pendolino trains with hardware to support Wi-Fi services.
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Under the upgrade works, the trains were refitted with 77,183m of cable on the 574 coaches. All hardware and software systems for the upgrade were delivered by McLaren Applied Technologies.
The service also enables passengers to access the Virgins Trains portal and use entertainment hub BEAM, as well as a journey planner and food menu.
Virgin Trains chief information officer John Sullivan said: “We’ve been working hard to deliver the best on-board entertainment and Wi-Fi experience for our customers and I believe we’ve achieved that with this latest upgrade.
“Our enhanced Wi-Fi means customers can stay connected and up to date as they travel or dip into the latest boxsets and movies through our entertainment service BEAM.
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By GlobalData“We know how important Wi-Fi is for all our customers and we want them to have an amazing experience while travelling on our network.”
In another development, Virgin Trains announced that it will introduce a price-guarantee app that will enable passengers to find the cheapest fare.
In a statement, the company said that the new technology “will cut through confusing and outdated ticketing systems to ensure that customers are automatically given the best ticket for their journey at the tap of a button.”
The app, slated to go live by the end of this year, is expected to generate a total savings of nearly £1bn.
