Guide to trains with Wi-Fi internet

Virgin Trains offers free wifi in 1st class, but currently charges for access in standard classFollowing Eurostar's announcement that it will provide wifi on its trains from 2012, Tom Watts takes a look at which train companies in the UK and Europe provide onboard Wi-fi services.

Wi-Fi availability can be a key reason to travel by train rather than flying or taking your car. The ability to do work, check emails and surf the web while on the move means that the time spent travelling need not be wasted. However, your access to Wi-Fi depends entirely on which provider you travel with - some offer free access to all, some charge, some do not offer anything. Below, we've listed the train companies in the UK and Europe that offer, or are soon to offer, on-board Wi-Fi services.

As it stands, there are currently only three train providers in the UK that offer free Wi-Fi to all passengers. These are... 

• Wrexham and Shropshire
• Heathrow Express
• Grand Central

In addition to these, there are another four providers who offer Wi-Fi free to 1st class passengers, with standard passengers having to pay for access. These are:

• Virgin Trains - £5 per hour or £10 per day. 
• East Coast Trains - The first 15 minutes are free then £4.95 per hour or £9.95 per day.
• East Midlands Trains - a flat rate of £4 every three hours.
• National Express East Anglia - £2.95 per journey.

WiFi on trains in Europe

Ireland's national rail network, Irish Rail, offers Wi-Fi on select services for €1 - €1.50 per hour. Trials are underway on select Dublin - Cork intercity services.

As of 2012, Eurostar will start to offer Wi-Fi on its trains. Until then, passengers will have to make do with Wi-Fi hotspots at major UK stations and free access for all customers at London St Pancras. 

International high-speed train operator THALYS provides on-board Wi-Fi access, which is charged at £6.50 per hour or £13 for the entire journey. The connection is free for Comfort 1 passengers.

German train company Deutsche Bahn (DB) offer Wi-Fi hotspots at stations as well as access on the high-speed ICE (intercity express) services for around €8 per hour. DB are looking to extend this service but the Wi-Fi is currently available on the following routes:

• Dortmund - Dusseldorf (also via Hagen and Wuppertal)
• Cologne - Frankfurt Airport
• Frankfurt - Stuttgart - Munich
• Frankfurt - Hannover - Hamburg

Since 2008, Arriva Denmark has offered Wi-Fi to passengers travelling across Denmark. On DSB trains, there is only Wi-Fi access between Copenhagen and Arhus, with free access for 1st class passengers.

In Sweden, SJ trains offers free Wi-Fi first class passengers, while standard passengers are charged by the hour.

>> To plan a trip by train, see our unique Rail Journey Planner for prices, itineraries and routes for over 80 train trips in Europe.

Germany's impressive ICE trains profide Wi-Fi access to passengers