Starlink is to be used as part of a trial on South Western Railway services to provide a better internet connection for passengers.

The trial will use the Low Earth Orbit network to provide passengers on the Weymouth route with a boost in internet coverage in the New Forest.

As part of the trial, a Class 444 train has been fitted with the tech, which provides a coverage rate of 97%.

“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.”

Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s Customer and Commercial Director