Rail passengers on a major UK route are set to experience a significant boost in onboard internet connectivity this festive season, thanks to a pioneering trial of satellite technology. South Western Railway (SWR) will begin testing high-speed wifi powered by Elon Musk's Starlink system from 20 December 2025.
Fixing the New Forest Blackspot
The trial will take place on a Class 444 train service operating between London Waterloo, Portsmouth Harbour, and Weymouth. A primary goal is to resolve a persistent and "major signal blackspot" for passengers travelling through the New Forest area. SWR stated that this upgrade will dramatically improve coverage in this region, where travellers have historically been left without internet connection for over 20 minutes during their journey.
Traditional onboard wifi, which relies on ground-based mobile networks, has long frustrated passengers, especially when trains pass through remote countryside or crowded urban centres where signals can drop. The Starlink system, developed by Musk's SpaceX, uses a vast constellation of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit to beam internet directly to the train, promising a far more consistent service.
Promising Early Test Results
Early testing conducted by the rail operator has yielded highly encouraging results. SWR reports that the Starlink technology has so far achieved a 97 per cent coverage rate across the route, enabling faster and more robust streaming for work and entertainment.
Peter Williams, SWR’s Customer and Commercial Director, emphasised the importance of the trial: "We know how vital reliable wifi is to our customers – it supports productivity, keeps people connected and entertained and makes rail an even more attractive and sustainable way to travel. By bringing satellite technology to our trains, we’re covering some of the hardest-to-reach parts of the network and showing that seamless connectivity is possible wherever you travel."
A Game-Changer for Rail Travel
If the trial proves successful, SWR has plans to roll out the Starlink technology across more trains in its fleet. The initiative has also garnered support from government. Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy commented: "A good wifi signal can transform a journey and SWR’s wifi trial is a game-changer for passengers. With Christmas and New Year celebrations just around the corner, passengers travelling for the holidays can enjoy their journeys knowing they’ll stay connected."
This move aligns with the broader Project Reach, a national infrastructure partnership aimed at eliminating mobile signal blackspots in tunnels on key UK rail routes by the year 2028. The SWR Starlink trial represents a tangible step towards that goal, offering a glimpse into a future of uninterrupted digital connectivity on Britain's railways.
