Trains: Wifi Provision for Passengers Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Trains: Wifi Provision for Passengers

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe Excerpts
Thursday 25th May 2023

(1 year, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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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.

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe Portrait Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab)
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Can the noble Baroness let the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, and the House know just what saving would be made if wifi were withdrawn, and what alternatives might be available to keep it running?

Baroness Vere of Norbiton Portrait Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con)
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Of course, I cannot say that at the moment because there is no plan to completely withdraw all wifi from across the network. That is the whole point. However, once the business cases have been done and there is an agreement as to which wifi might continue and which might not—one might assume that it would be a prerequisite on longer journeys, but I am not going to prejudge the outcome of the business cases—at that stage we will have a better idea of the future economics.