27/09/2006
- Three-month trial on 24-hour Oxford Tube link to London
- Customers to get free email and web access on the move
- Telabria Networks test will evaluate vehicle tracking system
Transport group Stagecoach is to offer customers free email and web access on its Oxford Tube service to London as part of a three-month trial of Wi-Fi technology.
All 25 state-of-the-art vehicles in the Oxford Tube fleet are being equipped with Wi-Fi technology supplied by Telabria Networks and the system will be in operation from 1 October.
Oxford Tube, which runs a 24-hour service every day of the year with coaches leaving up to every 10 minutes at peak times, is Europe’s most frequent express service.
The entire fleet was replaced two years ago at a cost of £8million - the UK’s biggest investment in new vehicles on a single route - allowing more than 6,000 passengers a day to travel on the service to London.
The 81-seat double-decker coaches are fully wheelchair-accessible with low-floors and air-conditioning. Featuring reclining seats, generous legroom, seatbelts, toilets and powerpoints for laptops and mobile phones, they are also equipped with CCTV technology for additional passenger security.
Stagecoach’s trial of the Wi-Fi technology will also include the first major deployment of Telabria’s mTracker vehicle tracking system. It will give Stagecoach a real-time at-a-glance view of its fleet and precise locations of individual vehicles on the road via the web.
Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group, said: “We have made a huge investment in Oxford Tube over the past two years and this new Wi-Fi pilot puts Stagecoach at the forefront of offering next-generation on-board services for coach customers.
“Many of our passengers on Oxford Tube are commuters and students, so having free access to email and the internet will be a significant benefit. The technology will also help us track the progress of vehicles on the network and advise customers of any issues that are likely to affect our services.”
Jim Baker, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Telabria Networks, said: “Access to a broadband connection is becoming increasingly important for travellers. Telabria’s MobilAPi mobile broadband router delivers Wi-Fi service to passengers, connecting to the Internet via the latest generation of cellular data networks at broadband speeds.
“We are delighted that Stagecoach has chosen our market-leading technology to deploy across the Oxford Tube fleet, raising the bar for cutting-edge passenger services.”
The results of the trial will be assessed and, if successful, the system will be made available on a permanent basis.
Oxford Tube services run up to every 10 minutes between Oxford and London – stopping at Lewknor, Hillingdon, Shepherds Bush, Notting Hill, Marble Arch and Victoria.
A secure e-commerce website, www.oxfordtube.com, allows customers to book single, return and period tickets online as well as access timetable and service information.
Oxford Tube also supplies breakfast and newspapers on its early morning commuter services.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Steve Stewart, Head of Media and Public Affairs, Stagecoach Group
Tel: 01738 442111
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Oxford Tube was launched in 1987 with a 30-minute frequency and since 1993 has run 24-hours-a-day. It runs every day of the year, including Christmas Day.
- Annual passenger volumes have grown from 230,000 in 1987 to nearly 2million today.
- On average a passenger boards the Oxford Tube every 20 seconds.
- The Oxford Tube fleet of coaches travels the equivalent of nearly three times around the globe every week!
