A major new partnership has been launched to tackle poor mobile signal along some of Britain’s busiest railway lines. Network Rail has teamed up with Neos Networks and Freshwave to roll out Project Reach, a large-scale initiative aimed at upgrading telecoms infrastructure and improving connectivity for millions of rail passengers.
The goal is to eliminate signal blackspots on key routes like the East Coast Main Line (King’s Cross to Newcastle), Chiltern Main Line (Marylebone to Birmingham), West Coast Main Line to Manchester, and the Great Western Main Line (London to Cardiff). In the first phase, 1,000km of high-speed fibre optic cable will be installed along these routes, with plans to expand the network to over 5,000km in the future.
The project also includes a commitment from mobile network operators to install new 4G and 5G infrastructure at 12 of the country’s busiest train stations, including Birmingham New Street and Manchester Piccadilly. This will significantly improve mobile coverage for passengers both on trains and at stations.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the initiative, calling it a “significant step forward” in improving rail connectivity. “This partnership means a more reliable and efficient service for passengers, and supports broader goals like economic growth and digital innovation,” she said.
Jeremy Westlake, Chief Financial Officer at Network Rail, highlighted the benefits of the unique investment model, which blends public and private sector funding. “It delivers faster telecoms upgrades, better value for taxpayers, and broader economic benefits,” he said.
The model is expected to save taxpayers around £300 million while laying the groundwork for a high-capacity digital network that Great British Railways can build on in the future. Beyond improving passenger experience, the upgraded system will also help Network Rail monitor and manage railway infrastructure more effectively and adopt new technologies.
