Wireless Net access arrives at Eurostar's Waterloo

By Alun Williams

Posted on 15 Dec 2004 at 12:10

Wi-Fi hotspots are coming to the Eurostar terminals at Waterloo International and Ashford International. Broadreach has won the contract to provide its ReadyToSurf? service at the railway stations.

The company already provides Wi-Fi Zone coverage for Piccadilly in London and has worked with Virgin Trains to create a specialist subsidiary to provide on-train Internet access.

'Introducing Wi-Fi access to Waterloo and Ashford gives our customers more time to catch up on work before they travel and ensures they arrive at their destination fully prepared,' said Paul Charles, Director of Communications, Eurostar.

The wireless Internet access will also be available in Eurostar's Paris terminal. It will be launched in its Brussels terminal next year.

Eurostar is a bit slow to board this particular train of technology - after all, coverage for Kings Cross, Euston and other major stations outside London were put in place in the summer of 2003.

The cutting edge for train technology is still on-board Internet access. Virgin began work on this back in 2003 - Virgin Trains extends trial for Internet on the move - and GNER also began this service back in 2003 - Wireless trains go online today. But Eurostar is also timetabling this feature...

'Eurostar is constantly looking at ways to enhance the service it offers to business travellers,' added Paul Charles. 'The launch of the ReadytoSurf? Wi-Fi service in our UK terminals follows the recent introduction of our refurbished train interiors which feature power sockets for laptops and mobiles. Next year, trials begin with two suppliers for our onboard Wi-Fi service.'

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