Orange to improve Virgin Trains 3G coverage

Link: Virgin Trains speeds towards on-board 3G mobile network – 11/May/2007 – ComputerWeekly.com

Virgin Trains is partnering with mobile operator Orange to improve on-board 2G and 3G mobile voice and data services to Virgin Voyager passengers. Eighteen Voyager trains have already been upgraded, and the system will ultimately benefit passengers on all 78 trains operating on the cross country and North Wales routes.

Excellent news, and quite relevent to anyone who spends time on one of Virgin’s new shiny trains. I was on a Pendalino from London to Birmingham about a week ago, and had virtually no T-Mobile coverage at all. The article goes on to explain why..

Orange developed technology to overcome the radio frequency signal blocking effect that is a result of the metallised glass on new train carriages. The system uses antennae on carriage roofs to receive outside signals, which are then replicated through a bank of repeaters placed inside the train.

Aha, a faraday cage – just as I thought. Still, it’s one way of enforcing the quiet carriage that some train companies operate!