250,000th user joins rising band of on-train WiFi users 

Male business passenger using GNER WiFi

EAST Coast train operator GNER today reached a new milestone in the development of its wireless internet service, as the 250,000th user logged on to the pioneering service.

The landmark log-on took place this morning on the 8am train from Glasgow to London, which called at Motherwell, Edinburgh, Berwick, Newcastle, Durham, Darlington, York, Doncaster, Peterborough and Stevenage on its way to King's Cross.

The news comes as latest statistics covering the four weeks to November 11 show a ten per cent rise in the number of passengers logging on to GNER's WiFi on board its trains, compared with the preceding four weeks to October 14.

GNER's commercial director Michelle Drage said: "We are delighted to welcome the quarter of a millionth GNER WiFi user online today, at a time when take-up of the service is continuing to rise strongly.

"WiFi is generating a fantastic reaction from our passengers, many of whom are contacting us to say how much they appreciate the opportunity to surf the internet and send or receive emails on the move.

"WiFi adds a new dimension to rail travel and we're proud to run the biggest fleet of WiFi-equipped carriages in the world".

As well as the wireless internet service on board its trains, GNER also provides WiFi in all eight of its First Class lounges along the East Coast route, at London King's Cross, Doncaster, Wakefield Westgate, Leeds, Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh Waverley.

User statistics covering the four weeks to November 11 show numbers using the service in GNER's First Class lounges rose by a fifth compared with the preceding four weeks to October 14.

GNER's WiFi also continues to attract favourable comments from travellers, such as Bill Guile, e-communications manager at English Partnerships in Newcastle. Bill says: "GNER's WiFi provides a valuable extra incentive to choose the train - it's a premium offering which gives the business user the flexibility to make the most of time spent on board the train, and the ability to stay in touch throughout the journey."