South Western Railway Trials Starlink Satellite Wi-Fi to Boost Connectivity on Remote Routes

South Western Railway (SWR) has become one of the first train operators in England to trial satellite-powered onboard Wi-Fi, using Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network to maintain connectivity even across remote parts of its routes. The trial, in partnership with Angel Trains and Clarus Networks, is running on a Class 444 train operating between London Waterloo, Portsmouth Harbour and Weymouth, offering a particular boost to coverage through the New Forest, an area traditionally plagued by mobile blackspots.

Early results from the trial have been encouraging, with coverage rates reaching 97%. This initiative complements SWR’s existing upgrades, which include superfast Rail-5G Wi-Fi introduced earlier in 2025 between Earlsfield and Basingstoke, offering speeds up to 20 times faster than standard mobile networks. Multi-SIM technology has also been installed to allow trains to switch automatically between UK mobile operators for the strongest connection, while Siemens has upgraded cabling and onboard equipment across the Class 444 and 450 fleet to ensure reliable performance.

The combined system, enabled by Icomera, integrates satellite, superfast 5G, and multi-SIM mobile connections to provide passengers with a seamless, uninterrupted online experience. These improvements have already led to a 58% increase in Wi-Fi usage, with more than one million customers now regularly using the service each month.

Peter Williams, SWR Customer and Commercial Director, said:

“We know how important reliable Wi-Fi 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. This is another big step towards improving the onboard experience for our customers and we are excited to see how it can benefit more routes across our network in future.”

Rail Minister Lord Hendy added:

“A good Wi-Fi signal can transform a journey and SWR’s Wi-Fi 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 - whether that’s to watch their favourite festive films, do last-minute shopping or catch up with loved ones at this special time of year. This is exactly the kind of improvement rail operators under public ownership can deliver to put passengers first and make rail travel enjoyable for all.”

Local leaders also welcomed the development. Cllr Andy Hadley of BCP Council said:

“Reliable digital connectivity is now a key benefit to our communities when choosing public transport over driving. South Western Railway’s investment in satellite-powered onboard Wi-Fi is a fantastic step forward, ensuring that residents, commuters, and visitors can stay connected even through the most rural parts of our region, especially the New Forest. This innovation not only supports productivity and convenience for passengers but also strengthens our commitment to making sustainable travel a great choice for everyone.”

Cllr Richard Biggs of Dorset Council added:

“This is very welcome news, we know from our own mobile coverage analysis that the user experience onboard trains is particularly challenging so any initiative that will help improve this situation and allow our residents and businesses to stay connected when travelling is an exciting development. We recently trialled low orbit satellites as a way of improving mobile coverage for the heritage Swanage Railway line, and it proved to be hugely successful. Having access to reliable high-quality connectivity when mobile, including when travelling, is essential for economic growth.”

Barry Fox, Head of Product Management at Angel Trains, said:

“Angel Trains is proud to be delivering this technology on board our trains alongside South Western Railway. We recognise the benefits that good, reliable connectivity can provide to the passenger experience, whether it be to remain connected for work or to enjoy valuable downtime, and are excited to deliver this 12-month trial. This project has been made possible because of our unique position in the industry, working closely with our partners Clarus Networks, Icomera (dg8) and Siemens to deliver a fully integrated and operational solution.”

Image: South Western Railway