Superfast Trains?
The article in the Inverness Courier published in June picked up on our announcement of speakers at our AGM & Conference. The writer noticed the mention of High-speed Broadband on trains being discussed by Robert Gardner and commented on how transformational this will be.
There were many Facebook comments about the plan and these unfortunately provide a snapshot of the way many people feel about the Far North Line at present. Of course, social media comments are notoriously negative and few people post positive thoughts, but that doesn't mean that the opinions given are any less real. Public perception of the line is key to its success and it's hard to disagree with much of this.
Facebook comments on Inverness Courier "Superfast Wi-Fi on Trains" - 13-06-24
- How about more trains first then worry about the Wi-Fi later?
- "Transformational" would be to have Wi-Fi at all. I find ScotRail are the worst franchise for this, esp 158/170s. If it's working at all, it's paper thin, slow and porous. Better off hot spotting my mobile.
- Never mind broadband, how about some superfast trains?
- Be better if they run the trains rather than having wi-fi.
- The cost of rail fares is ridiculous and they want people to use public transport, plus they are not reliable.
Reply: On the Far North Line? Use a Highland Railcard and it's half the standard fares.
- A reliable, affordable train service would be better before the internet being improved.
- Build a railway bridge over the Dornoch Firth.
- Will the replacement buses be connected?
- A fast internet connection is essential so you can try and work out your journey when delays mean you miss a connection.
- Superfast and reliable trains would be better.
- I live near the North rail line and I see empty trains going past several times a day. I know that some passengers will already have got off or are yet to alight but it doesn't look like it's very well used.
- How about just reliable/fast trains?
- Hope the Wi-Fi is more reliable than the trains.
- It'll be faster than the train!!
- The Wi-Fi on the trains is a complete waste of time. It doesn't work and it never has. ScotRail should concentrate on employing enough staff to cover sickness and holidays - if they did then customers would be able to rely on the train turning up and far more people would use the train.
- How about super fast trains?
Strathclyde University is currently surveying the views of residents and visitors around the Far North Line who don't use the railway, to establish their reasons. This survey was initiated by FoFNL, in conjunction with Network Rail and ScotRail, both organisations being keen to hear the views of people they can't easily reach. It will of course be no surprise to find echoes of the above comments, but we're hoping for some less predictable issues to be raised as well.
