UK rail travellers want wireless broadband

LONDON -- Three out of four UK business rail travellers want to use Wi-Fi for Internet access on the move, believing on-train connectivity is a clear reason to choose rail travel over other forms of transport, according to research released by Broadreach Networks Limited. The findings come from the UK’s largest-ever study of the awareness and interest in Wi-Fi technology amongst business rail travellers, commissioned by Broadreach, the UK’s leading provider of Internet locations earlier this year.

The survey found that 78% of passengers would use wireless broadband Internet access (Wi-Fi) on the train if it were available. Further, passengers said they would be prepared to pay a flat rate of up to £12 per journey.

The study was carried out by independent market research specialists in March and April 2004. Some 1,600 business travellers and commuters using a range of rail services across the UK -- including ScotRail, Eurostar, Virgin West Coast and Virgin Cross Country trains -- were interviewed face-to-face about their on-train working habits, and interest in Wi-Fi technology.

Working on the train

The study found that of those business rail travellers who use a laptop, PDA and/or mobile phone, around 80% regularly work during their journey on the train. But whilst half of respondents are aware of broadband public wireless Internet access, fewer than 10% have used a Wi-Fi hotspot to date. Despite this, 78% of business travellers stated they would use Wi-Fi on trains and half would also like the technology to be available at stations.

The research indicates that if given the access Wi-Fi users are 12 times more likely to use a hotspot on the train than anywhere else, and one of the primary reasons for this is the fact that travel time can be used more productively to catch up on work and stay in touch with colleagues or customers. Almost all those surveyed (85%) believed the presence of wireless broadband Internet access would mean they could use the time more productively for business, whilst three-quarters (72%) felt that Wi-Fi access would give them a reason to choose the train over other forms of transport.

Respondents also felt that the ability to connect on the train would give them more time for leisure (40%), more time with family and friends (40%) which would inevitably lead to less stress in their lives (30%). Another 36% felt that working on the train would give them a competitive edge.

Willing to pay

In terms of charges for on-train Wi-Fi, respondents would be willing to pay £5 per hour on a per-minute basis, or a flat fee of between £5 and £12. As might be expected, the amount that people were prepared to pay varied with the length of their journey. Those with a short trip (less than two hours) were prepared to pay between £5 and £8, whereas those on journeys of two hours or more thought that between £7 and £12 was a reasonable flat rate cost. The respondents that opted for the monthly subscription method indicated that a cost of between £15 and £25 was acceptable for a month’s unlimited Internet access on the train.

When considering how to pay, respondents demanded a variety of payment methods. 65% would expect to pay on an ad hoc basis: through vouchers, by credit card or through their existing service provider: for example an ISP or mobile operator, with only 28% of those surveyed expecting to see Wi-Fi access included in the price of their train ticket. Unsurprisingly, given the belief that on-train connectivity will increase business productivity, over half of businesses travellers felt that the Wi-Fi service would be a justifiable business expense.

The vast majority (79%) of respondents chose a laptop or notebook computer as their preferred means of accessing Wi-Fi services, with only 10% and 9% respectively favouring PDAs and mobile phones.

"We’ve always believed that a railway train is the ultimate location for a Wi-Fi hotspot as people are already working during their rail journeys," said Magnus McEwen-King, founder and CEO of Broadreach Networks. "This research more than confirms our belief in the connected carriage. Respondents in our study firmly believe that wireless Internet access on trains will improve their own productivity which I’m sure will be welcome news to UK business, and as a result, three-quarters of those surveyed would choose the train over other forms of transport, which is good news for train operators."