Internet
Association calls for free WiFi at more train stations
Passengers can only surf the group’s free Wi-Fi network at around every ninth DB station nationwide. photo
© Sebastian Willnow/dpa
Connect to the free WiFi network at the train station: Since 2020, Deutsche Bahn has been expanding this option to more and more stations. The Pro-Rail Alliance is calling for more speed.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) has been offering free travel at numerous train stations in Germany for around three and a half years WLAN on – but from the perspective of the Allianz pro Schiene interest group, the group is not making fast enough progress. The association said there are still major regional differences in the equipment available at train stations.
The Pro-Rail Alliance evaluated information from a request from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in November. Accordingly, passengers can only surf the group’s free WiFi network at around every ninth DB station nationwide.
In nine out of 16 federal states, not even five percent of the train stations belonging to Deutsche Bahn have a corresponding service. In four others the proportion is only between five and ten percent. Only in Hesse (70 percent), Schleswig-Holstein (74 percent) and Hamburg (90 percent) is the technical equipment of the train stations significantly better.
“Free Wi-Fi at train stations should actually be standard”
“The fact that Wi-Fi at train stations will continue to be looked for like a needle in a haystack in the majority of federal states in 2024 is not very contemporary,” said the managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, Dirk Flege. “Free Wi-Fi at train stations should actually be standard for travelers, especially to bridge longer waiting times.”
Deutsche Bahn passengers have been able to surf the Internet for free on their long-distance trains for years. Since 2020, the railway has been expanding a corresponding offer at the train stations. The “Wifi@DB” network can be accessed both on the platform and on the train, so that ideally customers do not have to dial in again when they get on the train. The railway initially began to upgrade the larger long-distance train stations in Germany accordingly.
According to the Pro-Rail Alliance, this option is now available at more than 580 train stations nationwide. “This means that we already reach well over half of all travelers per day and, in addition to the large transport hubs across the country, we also cover many medium-sized to smaller stations,” the railway said upon request. “Over 800 stations will be added gradually by 2028. Train stations in all federal states will benefit equally from the expansion.”