PASSENGERS using Basingstoke train station are set to benefit from free Wi-Fi being rolled out by South West Trains.

Basingstoke is one of five stations to receive the service from South West Trains, which is due to be introduced in September.

The Wi-Fi will be provided by Sky Cloud and is jointly funded by the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, Hampshire County Council (HCC) and Surrey County Council, following successful bidding to the Department for Transport as part of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Free Wi-Fi is also now available on more than half of all South West Trains services, helping to keep passengers connected during their train journey.

There are plans to roll out free on-board Wi-Fi across more train services this year.

Arthur Pretorius, customer service director for South West Trains, said: "Our on-board Wi-Fi has proved really popular with passengers, and we're very pleased to be taking the next step of introducing free Wi-Fi at a number of our busy stations.

"We'd like to thank the Enterprise M3 LEP, HCC and Surrey County Council for their financial contributions and support in making these improvements for our passengers.

"More than 26 million passenger journeys are made from these five stations every year, we're sure this will significantly enhance the travel experience of our passengers."

Councillor Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport at HCC, said: "Train travel is vital to many Hampshire residents, commuters and visitors to the county. Free Wi-Fi at Hampshire’s busiest train stations provides a real benefit, by helping them to utilise travel time more effectively.

"Our support and investment in this area is another example of HCC's willingness to act, using its size and capacity to benefit local people and businesses."

Geoff French, chairman of Enterprise M3 LEP, added: "Funding free Wi-Fi at the busiest stations in the Enterprise M3 area directly supports the Enterprise M3 LEP’s economic growth aspirations and provides a real benefit to our local businesses, enhancing travel choices and helping them to utilise their travel time more effectively."

More than £50million is being invested by South West Trains to improve services offered to passengers. Other improvements include 100 new customer ambassadors to provide a more personalised service at stations, and state-of-the-art ticket machines linked to a new dedicated 24/7 customer contact centre.