Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites power new Highland Scotrail Wi-Fi pilot as business minister Richard Lochhead hails a major ‘boost’ for passengers
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites are set to power a new £250,000 Scotrail Wi-Fi pilot for Highland trains in a bid to greatly increase onboard connectivity.
During a visit to Inverness train station this morning, business minister Richard Lochhead hailed a major ‘boost for Highland commuters and visitors’.
Trains operating in the Scottish Highlands will offer ‘unprecedented access’ to satellite technology in a move welcomed by local business organisations.
Six class 158 trains have been fitted with the new technology on lines running from and to Inverness including Wick, Thurso, Kyle of Lochalsh, and Aberdeen.
As a result of the six month trial passengers will see enhanced Wi-Fi service and Wi-Fi calling capabilities, GPS tracking of trains to enable joined-up public transport journeys; improved on-train journey information and live on-board CCTV access and download.
In a UK-first for onboard passenger Wi-Fi, ScotRail has worked with Bathgate-based Clarus Networks to design a new system which allows trains operating in rural Scotland to connect with a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network.
The project to address the long-standing on-train connectivity challenges in the region has been supported by the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and the Scottish Futures Trust.
If successful, the trial could lead to the roll-out of the technology across the remaining class 158 trains in the ScotRail fleet, which would cover other rural lines including the West Highlands, Stranraer, Dumfries and the Borders.
Asked about the the technology relying on the highly controversial billionaire Elon Musk, Mr Lochhead clarified that “Starlink is the only approved provider to the rail regulator
“I think what's important here is the fact of talking about the latest technology, in this case, satellite technology to give the best possible service to passengers in the far north and that is continuous digital connectivity.
"This technology is set to be a boost for Highland commuters and visitors, improving access to digital services – a central theme at today's Convention of the Highlands and Islands.
"It will enable passengers to access services and apps that will make their journeys more enjoyable and more productive”.
The chief executive of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce Colin Marr said: “At a recent meeting In Inverness, the business community voiced frustration with Scotrail’s slow progress on increasing the frequency of our rail services and reducing the journey times.
“However, a good number of businesses expressed the view that these things would be less important if Scotrail could provide conditions where people can continue working on their journey.
“That means the availability of tables, power points, catering and reliable Wi-Fi. So this trial of new technology is a welcome first step. We hope it is successful and that it's then adopted quickly across all services.”
Scott Prentice, ScotRail Strategy and Planning Director, said: "The launch of this trial is fantastic news for our customers using services in the north of the country, and will have a very positive impact on their journey experience.”
Mike Butler, Director of Rail and Innovation at Clarus Networks, said: "This project marks a major step forward in closing the digital divide for rural rail routes. By harnessing the power of Low Earth Orbit satellite technology, we're able to deliver fast, reliable connectivity in some of the most remote parts of the UK rail network.”
