A LABOUR MP says Prime Minister David Cameron’s pledge to spend £50m to ensure all trains are fitted with free wi-fi will only benefit the South-East.
Tom Blenkinsop, who represents Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said the plan to ensure passengers are better connected sounded grand, but claimed the region would miss out.
He said: “The plans as they stand only cover services on trains run by Great Northern, Southeastern, Chiltern and Arriva Trains Wales. The first three only operate trains geared to the South Eastern commuter market to London.
“As this is a government scheme, taxpayers on Teesside will be paying for city traders travelling to work to use their laptops and smartphones free of charge to access the internet.
“‘Digital’ Dave may think this is a wicked wheeze, but local rail users on the line from Saltburn to Darlington, packed into vintage, rattling, pacer trains will not be impressed at all.”
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