Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it mandatory for all new franchise agreements to provide free wi-fi on all trains.

The Department for Transport is committed to working with industry partners, such as Network Rail, in developing greater mobile connectivity for passengers. Our policy of awarding franchises on the basis of quality as well as price has seen franchises awarded on TSGN and Essex Thameside which included improvements in this area proposed by the winning bidders. In order to enable market led innovation and flexibility for bidders for franchises, the way in which greater mobile connectivity is delivered is not currently specified.

We are committed to improving access to mobile broadband for passengers. Monday's announcement that over £53m due to be repaid to Government by Network Rail will instead be invested in new WiFi equipment on trains is evidence of that commitment.