Tyne and Wear Metro launches free Wi-Fi pilot at Central Station
The Tyne and Wear Metro has launched its first-ever free Wi-Fi pilot, aiming to enhance the digital experience for passengers. If successful, the service could expand to other busy underground Metro stations.
The Metro Connect network allows travellers to access data and browse the internet at no cost via the Pop App, offering faster and more reliable connectivity, particularly where 4G and 5G signals are limited.
The three-month trial began on Monday 8 December at Central Metro Station in Newcastle city centre. Passengers will now be able to receive real-time service updates and access online content while at the station.
Steve Duchar, Head of ICT at Nexus, said:
“We’re really excited to be piloting the Tyne and Wear Metro’s first ever free Wi-Fi service, which is going to really improve the digital experience for thousands of our customers. Better connectivity at our underground Metro stations is something that customers really want to see, and we’re now able to start delivering that through this initial trial of the Metro Connect Wi-Fi at Central Station. We understand how important it is for people to stay connected while they are on the move. Metro Connect will provide customers with fast and easy access to data with their smartphones and tablets. It’ll transform how they can browse for key information and get real time service updates through our Pop App when they need it. We see strong data connectivity on Metro trains and at most of the stations across the system, but the busy underground stations could be better and often struggle to get any 4G or 5G connection at all, other than with EE. Wi-Fi remedies this issue. If the trial proves successful with high customer demand, then we could look at rolling out Wi-Fi to other key Metro stations which currently have poor digital connectivity.”
Metro Connect will allow customers to make Wi-Fi calls, send messages, and browse the internet across platforms and ticket concourses at Central Station. Access is quickest via the Pop App, though passengers can also connect using the Purple app or by selecting the ‘Metro Connect’ network through Wi-Fi settings. A short registration process is required.
The pilot’s success will be monitored carefully to determine if it can be expanded to other underground stations in the central area, including Monument, Haymarket, Jesmond, St James, and Gateshead. The Wi-Fi network is filtered to block inappropriate or indecent content, ensuring a safe browsing experience for all passengers.
Image: Nexus