The Friends of the Far North Line
Cairdean Na Loine Tuath
the campaign group for rail north of
Inverness - lobbying for improved services for the local user, tourist and freight
operator
Superfast broadband is coming to trains in the Far North - in a move which those behind it believe could be transformative and make the region a UK digital leader.
A year-long trial is being eyed up by the Scottish Futures Trust which would see trains on the Far North and Kyle lines upgraded to receive broadband via low-orbit satellite.
If it goes ahead the trust believes the move "is liable to deliver the best Wi-Fi experience of any train service in the country".
ScotRail and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are also stakeholders, while rail campaigners at the Friends of the Far North Line added that they think it will be "an absolute game-changer for many potential passengers" if it goes ahead.
Trains on the Far North and Kyle lines currently run through some of the most intermittent and least reliable mobile network areas in the UK, and also feature some of the longest journeys - with services between Inverness and Wick taking almost four-and-a-half hours from end to end. This means passengers can be cut off from a reliable digital connection for significant periods of time.
Proponents believe installing superfast wi-fi access on these trains will therefore not just prove a boon for visitors to the region, but people living in the north who will now be able to work on the move while commuting - opening more options for remote working too.
It is hoped this will encourage more people to take the train, and also make the region a digital hub, with the rail depot in Inverness also perfectly placed to become a leader in digital tech.
An estimated timetable for the trial suggests fitting of the new system could begin this autumn, with it being commissioned in December and the trial then running through until the end of 2025.
A report drawn up by the Scottish Futures Trust, which has been shared by its associate director, Robert Gardner, said: "High-speed broadband internet access on trains would be a major step towards improving the passenger experience and could provide significant benefits to both passengers and train operating companies.
The report continued: "Many rail passengers may need to stay connected to the internet during their journey, whether for work or personal reasons. Providing internet access can make their journey more convenient, attractive, and enjoyable.
"Many people use their commute time to catch up on work, answer emails, or complete other tasks. With good internet access, commuters can stay connected and productive during their ride, maximising their time."
It added that good internet access can enable passengers to stream movies, TV or music to keep themselves occupied on "long and monotonous" train rides. This would be particularly true in winter, where an entire four-and-a-half hour journey can take place in the dark.
The trust also flagged up possible video chats and the use of the wi-fi to stay up-to-date on travel information - such as live train connection times. The cost of installing the new system could be as little as £26,700 per two-car train, once the setting up and fitting out of the very first unit took place - with one-off design costs of £95,000 and one-off system integration of £40,000 taking the first train conversion up to just under £162,000.
However, beyond the initial trains, costings to fit out all 25 of the Class 158 fleet based in Inverness - not just those on the Far North Line - is projected to cost just £802,500 if the trial was rolled out more widely.
Overall, the report projects that the cost of introducing the new system on the Class 158 trains based in the north would come to just over £1 million, with just shy of another £1 million being projected if the project were a success and later rolled out to the 19 Class 153 and 156s which run along the West Highland Line too.
The team behind the Far North trial also added that the new skills acquired would also make Inverness Depot an important digital hub for ScotRail and other operators such as the Caledonian Sleeper.
They added: "A successful project would promote Inverness depot as a national railway centre of digital specialism, which aligns with ScotRail's intention to insource aspects of fleet digital connectivity.
"As well as being the home for the 25 Class 158s which work services in and around Inverness, it is also the home depot for the maintenance of the Caledonian Sleeper (Scotland/London overnight) fleet whereby each set is booked to visit Inverness every 8 days for routine maintenance and a deep clean."Staff at Inverness depot would be engaged to modify the vehicles and install the necessary satellite broadband equipment, power connections and associated wiring. The depot and staff would be well-positioned to upgrade the Caledonian Sleeper fleet which could benefit similarly."