Wi-Fi on your Public Transport?

Thamesdown Transport and Swindon Travel Choices have launched phase two of the on-bus Wi-Fi project, thanks to a positive reception by passengers.

Passengers using the Wi-Fi on phase one – Service 15 – were surveyed on their views and experiences in order to ensure that the system was performing well. 

A total of 894 Wi-Fi users completed the survey, with 91% rating the service as either excellent or very good.  83% of people also said that it encouraged them to use the bus more often and the majority of passengers used the Wi-Fi to access social media.

Thanks to this response, phase two of the project has now been rolled out to Service 11, running from the Haydon Wick to the Bus Station via Greenmeadow and Pinehurst, and Service 12 from St Andrew’s Ridge to the Great Western Hospital via Abbey Meads, Haydon End, Fleming Way, Old Town and Lawn.

The additional eight buses that are used on Services 11 and 12 have been fitted with wireless internet routers to which passengers can connect their smart phones, tablets and laptops in order to access the internet on the go.

Thamesdown and Swindon Travel Choices have also made it easy to connect – there is no sign-up process or password needed to access the internet. As long as you have ticked a box on screen to agree to terms and conditions of use, you’re off.

Thamesdown Transport managing director, Paul Jenkins, said: “The Wi-Fi project, which has been fully funded for two years by Swindon Travel Choices, has been very well received by the bus passengers of Swindon.  Bus travel around the town is easy and by having a reliable Wi-Fi service, people can make the most of their time, whether they are commuting or travelling for leisure, to look at emails and catch up with their friends online.”

Cllr Keith Williams, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Strategic Transport and Leisure, said: “It is good news that Wi-Fi on Thamesdown service 15 is proving so popular and the funding the Council has received to support the launch of the service on other routes will hopefully support the increased use of buses throughout Swindon.”

Buses equipped with Wi-Fi display a sign letting passengers know it is available and a poster on the buses explains how to connect.  For more information on Thamesdown’s routes, visit www.thamesdownbus.com.