London Midland Unveils Motion - Free WiFi and Onboard Enterainment System

[KashmireHawker]

London Midland - almost 8 1/2 years after taking over the West Midlands Franchise, has finally managed to get WiFi (and more) on to part of their services!

They say:

London Midland launches “world first” free entertainment and Wi-Fi on trains

https://www.londonmidland.com/about...ree-entertainment-and-wi-fi-on-trains-1926246

London Midland has today unveiled a free entertainment package of movies, TV programmes, eBooks and magazines plus Wi-Fi on its trains. The new service is called Motion.

This is the first time movies have been available on trains on a web browser – so no need to download an app before travelling.

What’s available on Motion?

• Major Hollywood movies – including Girl on a Train
• Children’s TV favourites including Peppa Pig and Ben & Holly
• Popular TV shows from Sky and Now TV
• Over 70 eBooks and audio books
• A selection of games
• Digital magazines

To give the best possible service, a state-of-the-art router is connected to three different networks providing the fastest free connection currently available on UK railways.

The Wi-Fi and entertainment package has already been installed on over half of London Midland’s long-distance fleet and Birmingham’s Cross City line between Lichfield and Redditch. By October, passengers on over 70 per cent of journeys will be able to enjoy the new service.

London Midland’s managing director, Patrick Verwer, said:

“Twelve months ago we pledged to install Wi-Fi on all of our long-distance trains but we have been able to do much more. Our innovative approach to technology means we have been able to include the industry-leading entertainment package and cover key local routes too.

“Our aim is to create simply better journeys for all our customers. Free entertainment and Wi-Fi will not only improve the customer experience – it will change the way people think about travelling on our trains.

“We have made the package as user-friendly as possible and this is the first time that Hollywood studios have given the green light for on-board movies and TV shows to be streamed directly to a browser, rather than through a third-party app.”

From Tuesday 25 April, Motion will be available on the following London Midland routes

• London Euston – Northampton – Coventry- Birmingham New St
• London Euston – Milton Keynes - Stoke on Trent - Crewe
• Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe – Stafford – Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street
• Redditch – Birmingham New Street – Lichfield Trent Valley
• Wolverhampton- Birmingham New Street- Walsall

 

[Kite159]

Makes sort of sense on the longer distance services, but for suburban services on the Cross-city line?

 

[satisnek]

As long as they stipulate that headphones MUST be used...

 

[Bungle965]

As long as they stipulate that headphones MUST be used...

Indeed, not strictly related but was on a VTEC service to London last Friday and I was sat in the quiet zone and a gentleman thought that it would be okay to play out a video, when the guard came through she asked if it was him playing the music and he said no!:roll:
I was getting off soon after and did not get a chance to tell her that it was him and that he was continuing to play it after she had left.
I would hope one of my fellow passengers did alert the guard however.
Sam

 

[Bletchleyite]

As long as they stipulate that headphones MUST be used...

Indeed. This is a massive bugbear of mine; if I wanted to watch the film, I would use my own device to do so.

 

[Bungle965]

However on a must more related note, I`m glad LM have finally got round to installing WiFi on their trains (323+350 only by the looks of it) it was badly needed for a while.
Sam

 

[Simon11]

Title of the article is incorrect by london midland, as even in the UK another TOC already offers this with free entertainment and wifi onboard (but note not movies).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Title of the article is incorrect by london midland, as even in the UK another TOC already offers this with free entertainment and wifi onboard (but note not movies).

It's correct, because LM are the first to offer access via a browser, rather than an app that must be downloaded before boarding. Or is there another one other than VTWC?