GNER in Wi-Fi win (From York Press)

GNER in Wi-Fi win

7:38am Friday 2nd March 2007 in Business news By Ron Godfrey

A PIONEERING project to put a wireless internet system on all of its trains has won GNER a top rail industry award.

The York-based train company's Wi-Fi initiative, which created the world's biggest fleet of Wi-Fi-equipped train carriages, won the information technology excellence award, at the HSBC Rail Awards.

The East Coast Main Line operator was also short-listed in the rail safety and security excellence categories - a night of success that could be seen as sadly ironic since the company was forced to give up its franchise.

More than 1,000 of the rail industry's senior executives were joined at the event in London by the Rail Minister Tom Harris MP and the Shadow Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling MP.

GNER's chief executive, Jonathan Metcalfe, said: "Wireless internet is attracting many new passengers to GNER, and this award is recognition of the vision and hard work of many people.

"Many passengers who are switching to the train instead of the car or the plane are telling us that being able to keep in touch throughout the journey using Wi-Fi is a key reason for their choice.

"Feedback from passengers has been very positive and usage levels are rising."

The short-listed bidders for the East Coast franchise - Arriva, First Rail, National Express, and a partnership of Virgin and Stagecoach - have been jostling to win the Government contract to operate the potentially lucrative line between Edinburgh and King's Cross.

But GNER management, generally recognised as one of the most efficient in the rail industry, has been approached by more than one of the "shortlisters" to team up with them should they succeed.