ScotRail has launched a wireless internet service which will be made available to passengers travelling on trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Travellers will now find it easier to link up with the internet, social networking pages and email. If successful the pilot scheme will be expanded to other ScotRail services.

Managing director of ScotRail, Scott Montgomery, urged passengers to look for signs on carriage doors and windows to see where the new service is available. The wi fi service has been activated on one out of every 10 trains on Scotland’s busiest rail route.

Mr Montgomery said that a questionnaire was being handed out to customers so that ScotRail could get a better idea of how to expand the wi fi service across the rest of the rail network.

Keith Brown, minister for transport, launched the scheme and said transport operators were looking for better ways to implement new technologies to help passengers to remain in contact while travelling. He added that business organisations had been very clear on the fact that better internet connectivity on the transport networks would help Scotland to remain competitive and that the ScotRail initiative was a step towards delivering this connectivity.

Mr Brown went on to say that the aim was to deliver access to the net across the whole of the country so that people are able to get online whether they are travelling on business or for pleasure.