DfT News & Analysis
2 articles
Market Mood
Half Price Train Tickets for 18-Year-Olds Starting August 17
Starting August 17, eighteen-year-olds will be able to purchase half price train tickets with a new railcard rule change announced by the Department for Transport (DfT). This extends the current 16-17 Saver railcard, allowing 17-year-olds to buy it until the day before their 18th birthday. Previously, over 70,000 students lost an average of £175 when they turned 18 each year. The new railcard, costing £35 per year, provides a 50% discount on most train fares, making travel more affordable for teenagers pursuing education or jobs.
Read More: Half Price Train Tickets for 18-Year-Olds Starting August 17
UK Train Wi-Fi Speed to Improve 90% in £57M Government Plan
A government initiative aims to enhance onboard wi-fi speed and reliability on UK trains. Currently, the UK's wi-fi speed ranks 16th out of 18 countries, averaging 1.09 Mbps, compared with Sweden's 64.58 Mbps. The government plans to spend £57 million to boost wi-fi availability from 50-60% to at least 90% over five years, while increasing speed by five to ten times. The initiative will involve connecting 1,400 trains to low-earth satellites, moving away from reliance on the mobile network, which often results in unstable connections.
Read More: UK Train Wi-Fi Speed to Improve 90% in £57M Government Plan