Orange to improve Virgin Trains 3G coverage
Link: Virgin Trains speeds towards on-board 3G mobile network - 11/May/2007 - ComputerWeekly.com
Virgin Trains is partnering with mobile operator Orange to improve on-board 2G and 3G mobile voice and data services to Virgin Voyager passengers. Eighteen Voyager trains have already been upgraded, and the system will ultimately benefit passengers on all 78 trains operating on the cross country and North Wales routes.
Excellent news, and quite relevent to anyone who spends time on one of Virgin’s new shiny trains. I was on a Pendalino from London to Birmingham about a week ago, and had virtually no T-Mobile coverage at all. The article goes on to explain why..
Orange developed technology to overcome the radio frequency signal blocking effect that is a result of the metallised glass on new train carriages. The system uses antennae on carriage roofs to receive outside signals, which are then replicated through a bank of repeaters placed inside the train.
Aha, a faraday cage - just as I thought. Still, it’s one way of enforcing the quiet carriage that some train companies operate!
I’m amazed that service is still so shocking on trains.
I’ve been travelling from Nottingham to London for years and I’ve seen no improvement. I’ve tried Orange, O2 and Vodafone. I just don’t bother making calls let alone access the internet while on board.
People on trains are the perfect mobile users. Stuck in their seats, nothing to distract them like driving, desperate for something to do. Be it work, chatting with mates, looking up what to do tonight, booking tickets, checking the live train arrivals to see what time their train get’s in.
Just look at how much ‘toothing happens on trains. People are desperate to use their mobiles.
If anyone from Midland Mainline and Vodafone are listening, please follow suit.
Posted by Adam on May 12th, 2007 at 12:28 pm.Actually Adam you reminded me of something. I’ve been seeing Vodafone billboards lately advertising mobile TV as the perfect anecdote to boredom on the train. They even talk about it on their website - ‘Which means that while other people sit staring blankly out the train window, you can enjoy the best of Sky TV – from Sky News and Sky Sports News, to MTV, Discovery and more.’
I’m gobsmacked. I mean, unless I’ve totally missed something here, their mobile TV service uses 3G data. Not 2G, not 2.5G, 3G. And it’ll need a good solid reliable connection too. You’re not going to get any of that on a train moving at any sort of sensible speed.
I’d love to be proved wrong - if anyone from Vodafone is listening and wants to enlighten me on their new soon-to-be-launched 100% rock solid 3G coverage across the UK national rail network, please get in touch!
Posted by Alex on May 12th, 2007 at 1:38 pm.