Network Rail is investing £1.9bn to roll out high-speed mobile broadband on the busiest parts of the UK’s railways in order to improve the consistency and reliability of mobile connectivity on trains.

Passengers will be able to take advantage of this starting in 2015, with the network reaching a projected 70 per cent of the travelling public by 2019. This will be achieved through the installation of equipment that alleviates the barriers to good signal on board a train, according to Network Rail, as well as an upgrade of the existing infrastructure.

“There are few things more frustrating than trying to phone a friend or access the internet, only to be thwarted by bad signal,” said UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. “Passengers deserve to have the best mobile technology and that is why I am pleased that industry is coming together to make that a reality.”

Network Rail is currently working with the rail industry to establish a business case for these improvements, and how they will be funded.