Passengers travelling on Northern Rail’s electric trains between Leeds and Bradford can access free wi-fi on their journeys, thanks to a £750,000 investment from Broadband UK (BDUK), which is a subsidiary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The internet access is now available for passengers, and has been provided by a joint initiative between Northern Rail, Leeds City Council, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Ed Vaizey, the minister for culture and the digital economy, said: “Providing free wi-fi on public transport and in public spaces is just one of the ways we’re boosting connectivity across our cities. It is great to see the positive impact this is already having for commuters in Bradford and Leeds.”
The internet is said to have a capability of 20Mbps. It comes with “unlimited entertainment” in the form of audiobooks from Audible, games, music, local and national news, and some popular TV shows streamed via Sky’s NOW TV platform.