East Midlands Trains set to offer free WiFi for rail passengers using The Cloud
East Midlands Trains, part of the Stagecoach Group, has announced that it has struck a deal with The Cloud, which will allow it to roll out free WiFi for rail passengers across 30 of its stations including Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby and Leicester.
Starting from early 2013, the deal will see users be able to access the internet via a branded landing page, where they can browse the net and use social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
Neil Micklethwaite, customer service and commercial director at East Midlands Trains, said: “We already offer WiFi on our trains and in our first class lounges at stations. Now with The Cloud in place we will complete the WiFi package by adding all other areas to the mix, from platforms to retail and food & beverage venues. The Content Portal will be a particularly useful tool for customers as it provides a one-stop-shop of information, including London Underground travel updates – something that should be especially beneficial to those commuting in and out of the capital.
“This deal is all part of our £10 million investment project which aims to improve the customer experience at all of our stations. Adapting to the mobile boom by providing free WiFi to our customers is a key element of this.”
Vince Russell, MD at The Cloud, added: “Rail stations are no longer just thoroughfares. With shops, cafes, bars and restaurants located at various stations now, East Midlands Trains customers are spending longer at each location and it’s vital they have the best possible mobile data service while they’re there.
“More and more people own devices such as tablets and they want to be able to use them without having to worry about network congestion, patchy coverage or exceeding their data limits, which is where our WiFi service comes in. It provides passengers with fast, reliable, free internet access allied with unique engaging content.”
Recent research highlights the continued growth of mobile phones, with 85 per cent of people using the internet on the go.