Trains: Wifi Provision for Passengers Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Trains: Wifi Provision for Passengers

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle Excerpts
Thursday 25th May 2023

(1 year, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle Portrait Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)
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My Lords, the Minister has a number of times referred to people using their own 4G or 5G contracts instead, but people who have to really watch their costs in the cost of living crisis are very likely to have capped contracts where the amount of 4G or 5G they use is limited. Given the already eye-watering cost of rail fares and the fact that if you get wifi you are not using that scarce resource you have in your 4G or 5G contract, is this not actually pricing even more people off the railways and making the service available only to the rich?

Baroness Vere of Norbiton Portrait Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
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As I have said many times, business cases will be drawn up by the train operating companies, and those considerations will be top of mind.