Trial boosts hopes for train internet services

By John Van Klaveren
A V/LINE antenna system trial could improve internet coverage on Geelong trains, according to the company’s communications manager.
Daniel Moloney said the trial aimed to discover whether low signal strength or the shielding effect of trains contributed to on-board black spots.
“If the trial shows the antenna has an effect it will enable us to put a business case to government to install them across the fleet.”
Geelong Chamber of Commerce and Deakin University have called for improved internet coverage for business and student travellers.
Mr Moloney said V/Line had already tested baseline coverage for the three mobile providers: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
“Now we’ll see whether adding an antenna makes a difference.
“We know that where there’s a strong signal there are no cut-out issues, so we need to find out the degree carriage construction impacts a weak signal.”
Mr Moloney said some trains, particularly VLocity carriages, had a shielding effect on mobile signals.
“The Geelong line fares comparatively well, although it could still be improved,” he said.
“Other regional lines have it worse, with half the Ballarat line and three-quarters of the Bendigo line out of coverage.”
A Telstra spokesman said its network generally had good handheld street-level coverage along the Melbourne-to-Geelong line.
“Provision of continuous mobile phone coverage into train carriages, however, is a far more difficult prospect,” he said.
“Train carriages typically have substantial multi-layered steel skins and often metallic reflective coating on carriage windows. The structural factors greatly reduce the level of signal that reaches passengers.”
The spokesman said railway cuttings and tunnels added to a “complex and challenging environment” for mobile coverage.
“The number of simultaneous users accessing wireless data also plays a part in network data speed performance.”
Deakin Vice Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said reliable internet connectivity would help the university increase enrolments.
“In today’s digital age everyone, particularly the young, students and those from overseas, expect to be able to connect to the internet wherever they are.
“A reliable wireless connection on rail services in regional Victoria and especially on the busy Geelong-to-Melbourne line is very important.”