Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted
Network Rail's Project Reach to improve railway connectivity experiencing significant delays
Conclusion
The Department told us that Network Rail, and in turn therefore the Department for Transport and its accounting officer, are responsible for the business case for improving connectivity on the railways. Owing to the infrastructure required, the case for improving connectivity has to be judged alongside other priorities for investment on the railways. Project Reach, Network Rail’s programme to improve connectivity on the railways has been delayed, with some key rail lines missing out. The Department acknowledged that, as it and the Department for Transport learn more about the gaps in coverage and the case for intervention, they will want to do more to improve connectivity on the railways.55 53 Qq 19, 21; C&AG’s Report, para 4.14 54 Qq 19, 22; C&AG’s Report, para 4.14 55 Qq 19–22 Supporting mobile connectivity 17 3 Plans for 5G and future connectivity Establishing the case for 5G
Government Response Summary
The department has asked Ofcom to report on mobile coverage on the rail network in its annual report and the DfT commissioned a study using scanners to measure mobile signal strength. The department will outline progress in future updates.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 6.2 The department has asked Ofcom to report on the availability of mobile coverage on the rail network in its annual Connected Nations report. To this end, the department asked Ofcom to investigate the feasibility of using in-carriage scanners and crowdsourced data to provide an overview of connectivity on the mainline routes. Ofcom are considering possible approaches to measuring mobile coverage and performance on trains. 6.3 At the same time, the Department for Transport (DfT) has commissioned a study using scanners fitted to the outside of Network Rail’s engineering trains to measure mobile signal strength on train routes. This exercise will finish in early 2025 and will help to establish baseline data for mobile coverage across the UK rail network. 6.4 The department will outline progress on this matter in future Treasury Minute updates once the government’s work with Ofcom on reporting on rail connectivity, and the DfT’s initiative, have concluded.