Tube customers better connected as WiFi reaches 100 more stations
Transport for London (TfL) and Virgin Media have joined forces to expand ultrafast WiFi connectivity to almost all London Underground (LU) stations.
The service, which can reach speeds of more than 100Mbps, has been installed and enabled at 100 more Tube stations, bringing the total to 250.
Since its launch in 2012, WiFi has become an integral part of travel on the Tube, with around half a million phones, tablets and laptops connecting every day.
Virgin Media's data shows 20TB of data is consumed on average each day on the LU WiFi network - a huge increase from 3TB-a-day within the last 12 months. An average user consumes around 40MB a day, equivalent to streaming 10 music tracks each, or five million tracks across the whole Tube WiFi network each day.
The service provides free travel information to anyone who connects, including live service updates and TfL's Journey Planner. Customers of Virgin Media and several other major mobile phone providers can also access the wider internet with no extra charge. It works throughout stations - in ticket halls, passageways and on platforms. The WiFi service has also been extended to Victoria Coach Station for the first time.
Steve Townsend, TfL's Chief Information Officer, said: `WiFi is one of many ways we're improving our customers' journeys across the TfL network. We're delighted that 250 Tube stations and Victoria Coach Station now have WiFi. It will help more of our customers access live travel information, social media and internet browsing while they are on the move across the Capital.'
Gregor McNeil, Managing Director, Consumer at Virgin Media, said: 'Since we launched the LU WiFi service three years ago we have been astounded by the take-up and reaction from Tube users and reaching the 250 station milestone has been a long-term ambition for us. By bringing connectivity to more people where and when they need it, out of their homes, we are helping Londoners to stay connected and for them to do all the stuff they love - post, tweet, watch and share - whilst on the move.'
Notes to Editors:
The stations where WiFi is newly available are:
| Alperton Amersham Arnos Grove Barkingside Barons Court Becontree Boston Manor Brent Cross Bromley-by-Bow Buckhurst Hill Burnt Oak Canons Park Chalfont & Latimer Chesham Chigwell Chiswick Park Chorleywood Cockfosters Colindale Croxley Dagenham East Dagenham Heathway Debden Ealing Common East Acton East Finchley Edgware Elm Park Epping Fairlop Fulham Broadway Goldhawk Road Grange Hill Greenford Hainault |
Harlesden Harrow & Wealdstone Hendon Central High Barnet Hillingdon Hornchurch Hounslow Central Hounslow East Hounslow West Ickenham Kenton Kew Gardens Kilburn Park Kingsbury Latimer Road Loughton Mill Hill East Moor Park Neasden North Acton North Ealing North Harrow Northfields Northolt Northwick Park Northwood Northwood Hills Oakwood Osterley Park Royal Perivale Pinner Preston Road Queensbury Ravenscourt Park |
Rayners Lane Rickmansworth Roding Valley Royal Oak Ruislip Ruislip Manor Snaresbrook South Ealing South Harrow South Kenton South Ruislip South Woodford Stamford Brook Stanmore Stonebridge Park Sudbury Hill Sudbury Town Theydon Bois Totteridge & Whetstone Turnham Green Upminster Bridge Upney Uxbridge West Acton West Finchley West Harrow Westbourne Park Willesden Green Wood Green Wood Lane Woodford Woodside Park Victoria Coach Station |
Virgin Media has been helping Tube passengers get online underground since June 2012, with nearly half a million people using the new service during the 2012 Games. LU and Virgin Media have continued to develop the service with 250 stations now online.
All Tube customers can keep up-to-date with TfL travel information and quality London entertainment and news at no cost through Virgin Media's WiFi portal.
Customers of Virgin Media, EE, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2 and Three, can access WiFi at no extra cost but Virgin Media also offers a pay-as-you-go service with daily, weekly and monthly passes, so that WiFi access is available to all.
To find out more about the roll-out of WiFi on London Underground and find out how to use the service, head to www.virginmedia.com/wifi or www.tfl.gov.uk/wifi.
WiFi is also available at London Overground stations, provided by The Cloud.