• Starlink-powered onboard Wi-Fi delivering 97% coverage through the New Forest - one of the route's most challenging not-spot areas
• New solution complements SWR's superfast Rail-5G rollout, delivering speeds up to 20 times faster than conventional onboard Wi-Fi
• Trial strengthens SWR's investment in next-generation onboard connectivity on services between London Waterloo, Portsmouth Harbour and Weymouth
• Clarus Networks provides specialist satellite connectivity and rail integration expertise, working alongside SWR and Angel Trains

Edinburgh, 22^nd December 2025 - South Western Railway (SWR) has become one of the first train operators in England to trial satellite-powered onboard Wi-Fi, marking a significant step towards delivering consistent, high-speed digital connectivity across rural and hard-to-serve rail corridors.

Launched on 20 December 2025 as a one-year trial, and run in partnership with Angel Trains with support from Clarus Networks, the initiative uses Starlink's Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network to maintain high-bandwidth connectivity on a Class 444 test train operating between London Waterloo, Portsmouth Harbour and Weymouth.

The trial is demonstrating how LEO satellite connectivity can help overcome longstanding coverage gaps along the route - including through the New Forest, where passengers have historically experienced extended periods without reliable mobile data coverage. Early results show 97% coverage through the New Forest, helping to close one of the most persistent connectivity gaps on the corridor.

This satellite capability forms part of SWR's wider onboard connectivity strategy, designed to match different network challenges with the right technology. It builds on SWR's Rail-5G deployment between Earlsfield and Basingstoke, first announced on 20 May 2025, which delivers significantly faster onboard performance using advanced trackside antenna technology. SWR has also deployed multi-SIM mobile technology across its fleet, enabling trains to dynamically switch between mobile networks to maintain the strongest possible connection.

Together, these developments mean SWR is among the first UK operators to combine three complementary approaches to onboard connectivity - mobile, trackside and satellite - to reduce blackspots and improve passenger experience across both urban and rural sections of the network.

With more reliable connectivity in place, passengers are increasingly using journeys in the same way they would at home or work - from streaming and video calls to cloud applications and productivity tools. SWR reports more than one million Wi-Fi users each month, with usage up 58% year-on-year.

Mike Butler, Director of Rail & Innovation at Clarus Networks, said:
"Providing uninterrupted, high-speed connectivity to moving trains is a complex challenge, especially across rural regions where traditional mobile coverage falls short. Satellite technology is opening up new possibilities, and we're proud to support South Western Railway in exploring how LEO can enhance the passenger experience. This builds on the momentum we're seeing across the UK rail sector - our work has shown the clear demand from operators for innovative connectivity solutions that can keep people online regardless of geography. SWR's trial is another strong example of the industry embracing forward-thinking approaches to deliver meaningful improvements for customers."

Peter Williams, South Western Railway's Customer and Commercial Director, said:
"We know how important reliable Wi-Fi is to our customers - it supports productivity, keeps people connected and entertained, and makes rail an even more attractive and sustainable way to travel.

By bringing satellite technology to our trains, we're covering some of the hardest-to-reach parts of the network and showing that seamless connectivity is possible wherever you travel. This is another big step towards improving the onboard experience for our customers and we are excited to see how it can benefit more routes across our network in future."