Project Reach to eliminate mobile dead zones across UK rail with 1,000 km fibre and 5G rollout by 2028

A multi-year digital infrastructure initiative backed by the UK Department for Transport has launched under the name Project Reach, marking one of the most ambitious attempts to digitally overhaul the country’s railway system. The deal, formally announced on 26 June 2025, brings together Network Rail, Neos Networks, and Freshwave in a high-impact public–private partnership to install 1,000 kilometres of ultra-fast fibre-optic cable, eliminate mobile signal dead zones in tunnels, and bring next-generation 4G and 5G services to 12 of Britain’s busiest train stations.

The deal aligns with the government’s broader Plan for Change mission to enhance national productivity, increase transport reliability, and build digital resilience across key economic infrastructure. Once completed, Project Reach is expected to directly impact millions of rail passengers by enabling seamless mobile access across long-distance routes, previously unconnected tunnels, and high-density terminal stations.

What are the technical specifics of the Project Reach fibre and wireless connectivity rollout across UK rail?

Under the Project Reach plan, Neos Networks will deploy 1,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cabling along major rail corridors including the East Coast Main Line, key sections of the West Coast Main Line, and the Great Western Main Line. These are among the most heavily trafficked train routes in the UK, serving intercity connections between London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and other major economic centres.

The long-term vision extends beyond this initial scope, with Neos indicating a possible expansion to over 5,000 kilometres in the future. This fibre infrastructure is considered essential to create a “data spine” for the national rail network—supporting real-time monitoring, intelligent signalling, and bandwidth-heavy use cases such as predictive maintenance and AI-led scheduling.

Freshwave will be responsible for installing high-quality mobile infrastructure in 57 tunnels, totalling nearly 50 kilometres in length. These include critical long-distance tunnels like the Chipping Sodbury tunnel in Gloucestershire, which spans 4 kilometres and is one of the most problematic dead zones in the network.

Additionally, mobile network operators, under the coordinated rollout plan, will install 4G and 5G infrastructure at 12 of the most trafficked Network Rail stations including London Paddington, King’s Cross, Waterloo, and Euston, as well as regional hubs such as Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street, and Edinburgh Waverley.

Why was the Project Reach model chosen and how does it compare to previous UK rail connectivity efforts?

Previous attempts to improve rail connectivity have been fragmented, often focused on basic Wi-Fi upgrades or experimental satellite linkages. While the government had allocated £41 million through the National Infrastructure Strategy to pilot low-earth-orbit satellite access on mainline trains, those efforts were not integrated at the systems level.

Project Reach marks the first time a full-fibre solution has been paired with tunnel-level infrastructure and station-wide mobile coverage under a single programme. The choice to structure this initiative as a public–private partnership is also a strategic pivot. According to indirect sentiment from infrastructure-focused institutional investors, this model offers long-term cost advantages while unlocking commercial deployment capacity from the private sector.

Officials estimate Project Reach will deliver taxpayer savings of approximately £300 million by avoiding the need for a fully government-funded rollout. This fiscal efficiency, combined with anticipated gains in productivity and digital service availability, makes it one of the most economically leveraged infrastructure projects currently underway in the UK transport sector.

How do stakeholders expect improved mobile coverage to affect commuters and passenger productivity?

With the UK’s shift toward hybrid work patterns and mobile-first productivity, the lack of reliable mobile service across rail lines has been a consistent frustration for daily and long-distance commuters alike. Institutional investors have previously flagged this issue as a bottleneck to rail usage growth, particularly in business corridors where uninterrupted access to video conferencing, messaging, and productivity apps is essential.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the deal as a “game changer,” noting that passengers travelling between regional and capital cities would finally be able to maintain stable connectivity from platform to destination. She said the rollout would “revolutionise journeys from Paddington to Penzance and Edinburgh to Euston,” creating a more connected and efficient rail experience.

Executive Chair of Rail Delivery Group, Jacqueline Starr, reinforced this point by stating that a “digitally connected railway will soon become a reality,” noting that reliable communications infrastructure also supports the sector’s net-zero transition by encouraging modal shift from private car to rail.

What is the implementation timeline and how will railway operations benefit from improved connectivity?

The first installations under Project Reach are scheduled to begin in 2026, with full deployment targeted for 2028. However, early improvements are expected to be visible as tunnel upgrades and station rollouts progress incrementally.

Network Rail’s Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Westlake highlighted that the telecoms overhaul will support smarter railway operations, stating that the enhanced fibre infrastructure will “deliver better connectivity and a better, more reliable train service.” The system is designed to enable continuous monitoring of rolling stock, track condition, and environmental variables, which will help predict equipment failures before they cause delays.

Moreover, the infrastructure lays the foundation for the future deployment of autonomous railway technologies, digital twins, and AI-enabled control systems—each of which relies on high-speed, low-latency network access.

How does Project Reach tie into the formation of Great British Railways and broader transport digitisation?

The UK rail system is currently undergoing one of its most significant structural overhauls in decades through the formation of Great British Railways—an integrated national body intended to unify track, station, and train operations. Project Reach is expected to play a foundational role in enabling this transformation by standardising digital infrastructure across previously siloed assets.

Analysts tracking the digital infrastructure sector suggest that this integrated approach may allow the rail network to move toward a unified “mobility as a service” platform in the future. Such platforms could combine ticketing, journey planning, real-time train data, and station services into a seamless app-based ecosystem.

In that context, Project Reach is not just a telecom upgrade—it is a strategic move to reposition rail as the most advanced and convenient form of low-carbon, long-distance mobility in the country.

What are the next phases expected after 2028 and what do experts say about scalability?

By 2028, once full deployment is achieved, institutional sentiment indicates that rail operators and mobile networks will explore monetisation of the new bandwidth capacity through premium services, content streaming, and value-added data analytics.

Experts also expect the Project Reach model to be extended to regional commuter lines, London Underground assets, and even road-based transport systems such as long-distance coach corridors.

There is also scope for edge computing, cloud-based signalling systems, and smart power management systems to be layered over the new infrastructure. These could lead to reductions in energy consumption, faster response times during disruptions, and enhanced emergency coordination capabilities.