Luxembourg considers free Wifi on trains and buses

(JB) Certain trains in Luxembourg are to be fitted with free Wifi as part of a test phase meanwhile in future buses could also offer the service.

Responding to a parliamentary question, Luxembourg Infrastructure Minister François Bausch revealed that a pilot will be carried out on the new KISS trains.

Luxembourg has placed an order for 11 of the ultra-modern rail cars, the first of which will be delivered in January 2017.

According to Bausch, the first model will be fitted with WiFi and 3G/4G repeaters. Over several months, CFL will test the take-up and, based on its findings, it will equip future KISS rail carriages with either Wifi or 3g/4G repeaters.

“It is clear that its success will depend on the quality of coverage offered by telecommunications firms along the rail network,” the minister said, adding: “In order to ensure uninterrupted Wifi, CFL will call for better network coverage.”

Bus passengers travelling on RGTR lines 202 and 203 have been able to access free Wifi since 2012. Bausch said there were no plans for a systematic roll-out across the network in the short-term, however, he did not rule it out when operator contracts next come up for tender in 2018.