Business
Formula 1 tech used to improve train Wi-Fi on GWR
Laura CressTechnology reporter
GWRA new UK-first pilot scheme is aiming to create fast and more reliable train wi-fi, using technology originally developed for Formula 1 cars.
It will see a train in the Great Western Railway fleet use a hybrid system of both signals from mobile phone masts on the ground and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in space to create a more reliable connection.
The scheme has been developed by British tech company Motion Applied, in partnership with the transport body for Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay, Peninsula Transport.
The pilot will last for 60 days onboard GWR’s Intercity Express Train which runs in the South West region, having started in mid-November.
In a recent study by networking testing firm Ookla, the UK ranked 16th out of 18 major European and Asian countries for train wi-fi speed, with average download speeds at just 1.09 megabits per second, compared to Sweden’s 64.58.
Nick Fry, chairman of Motion Applied, formerly part of McLaren Group, said the issues faced in connecting to the internet from a fast moving train had “many parallels with motorsport”.
He added that by using technology originally developed for F1 cars, trains should be able to switch between ground and space-based networks such as LEO satellites to “reliably connect” without drop outs.
In the 2025 spending review, the Department of Transport secured £41m to introduce low earth orbit satellite connectivity on all mainline trains by 2030.
‘A step in the right direction’
Councillor Dan Rogerson, from the Peninsula Transport board, called the pilot a “major milestone” in its plans to modernise transport infrastructure across the South West and South Wales.
“It’s not just about passenger wi-fi,” he said. “This is about a whole new digital backbone for our transport networks”.
Bruce Williamson from the campaign group Railfuture told the BBC the scheme appeared to be “really good news”.
“We’re all increasingly connected these days, and wi-fi has become more and more of an essential service for travellers. I’m not going to hold my breath, but this is a step in the right direction.”
In May, South Western Railway launched its own, separate, “superfast” wi-fi rollout for its trains between Earlsfield and Basingstoke, using trackside poles and antennas to create a bespoke 5G rail network.
Last Updated:
Shares of Siemens on Monday surge by over 4.3% to trade at Rs 3,218.10 apiece on the NSE despite a 7% y-o-y decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 485 crore in Q2.
Siemens Share Price.
Siemens Share Price Today: Shares of Siemens on Monday surged by over 4.3% to trade at Rs 3,218.10 apiece on the NSE despite weak Q2 results. The heavy electrical equipment maker has reported a 7 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 485 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2025.
On the BSE, the stock traded at Rs 3,220.85 apiece as of 1:10 pm, which is nearly 4.5% higher than the previous close of Rs 3,082.95.
Siemens’ net profit (or profit after tax) had stood at Rs 523 crore in the July-September period a year ago.
However, the company saw its revenue from operations grow 16 per cent to Rs 5,171 crore during the quarter under review from Rs 4,457 crore in the year- ago period.
Siemens MD and CEO Sunil Mathur said, “We delivered a robust performance this quarter, with a surge in revenue, driven by strong performance in our mobility and smart infrastructure businesses while digital Industries volumes were impacted due to a lower reach in the order backlog from the previous year and muted private sector capex.”
He added that the profit was impacted by a one-time gain of Rs 69 crore from the sale of property in Q4 FY 2024. On August 8, 2025, the board approved changing the company’s financial year from October-September to April-March.
The current financial year is changed to October 1, 2024-March 31, 2026 (18 months). Thereafter, the financial year will be April 1 to March 31, every year.
What Brokerages Say
JM Financials in its note said Siemens’ revenue exceeded its estimates by 8%. However, its EBITDA beat was smaller at 5% on demerger-linked costs. PAT beat was a modest 2% on higher tax and lower other income. Order inflows continue to be robust relative to peer ABB India at 10% though missed our estimate by 5%.
“We resume with ADD as we value the stock at similar multiples to ABB at 50x P/E Sep-27 as Digital Industries (DI) margin challenge still persist. We note change on FY end to March end vs Sep earlier makes direct comparison superfluous for FY26E numbers,” JM Financial said.
Motilal Oswal has maintained its ‘Neutral’ stance on the stock, saying it wants to see a more broad-based ramp-up in scale before turning more positive. The firm noted that its current forecasts already bake in margin gains across divisions. It expects the smart infrastructure vertical to continue delivering strong growth, with a gradual pickup likely in the digital industries and mobility businesses as well.
Antique Stock Broking highlighted how Siemens has consistently reshaped its business model, moving away from being a pure industrial products player to becoming a technology-driven company aligned with investment themes across industry, infrastructure and transportation. The brokerage believes Siemens is well-positioned to ride the country’s ongoing capital expenditure cycle.
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More
November 17, 2025, 13:18 IST
Read More
Lucy AshtonSouth Yorkshire political reporter
BBCDawn Hayes is cooking sausages and hash browns in the kitchen of Shirecliffe Community Centre in Sheffield.
She is helping out at an adult breakfast club where parents and grandparents who have children at the adjoining Meadows nursery can have a hot meal for £1.
“It stops a lot of people going home and being lonely and it makes sure single parents get a meal,” she says.
The club is unusual in catering for adults at a time when many families are struggling with the cost of food – and parents may go without full meals to ensure their children are fed.
Ms Hayes, 47, explains: “I originally started coming to the centre when I brought my daughter to the nursery. When we looked at what people wanted within the community, we decided to set up a breakfast club.
“As parents drop off their children, we decided they needed somewhere to go rather than just going straight home.”
She has been the cook since it began and says it was set up to provide both food and company.
“It stops a lot of people from going home and just being alone. There are a lot of single parents around here and as a single parent, you often don’t get time to eat for yourself as you get up, get the kids ready and give them breakfast.
“We’re a bit of a social activity but we also make sure parents are eating as well.”
Parents can have a breakfast butty, along with hot drinks and cereal. A nearby Tesco store donates tea and coffee but the club does not receive any grants. It relies on occasional community events for fundraising and on the £1 contributions.
Many schools and nurseries now operate breakfast clubs for pupils, often with sponsorship from the major supermarket chains and brands.
The government has also launched an “early adopter” scheme for 750 schools, which will be given funding to offer free breakfast clubs lasting 30 minutes.
Lina, 34, has three children. Her two eldest boys were born during the pandemic so she struggled to meet other parents when playgroups were closed.
“I was feeling so lonely with nobody to speak to, and trying to deal with my two little boys, but the breakfast club gave me chance to build my confidence and make friends.
“The hot meal is a bonus for everyone. When it’s Thursday, I know I’m going to have my coffee and breakfast and it’s like a treat.
“I don’t have the chance to go to cafes because of the cost and also because the kids will be crying, but I know all these people, they are my friends. We are not just a breakfast club, not even a community, we are a family now.”
Jane Clark, 61, is a grandmother now but also enjoys the club.
“I’ve got a lot of time on my hands now and I like having a chat with people, learning stuff from them and maybe them learning stuff from me,” she says, nursing a cup of tea.
“Being around children keeps you young. Happy kids, happy mums, happy grannies!”
Japanese tourism and retail stocks fell on Monday after China warned its citizens not to travel to the country as Tokyo and Beijing remain locked in a row over Taiwan.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has been a vocal critic of China and its military activities in the region, suggested this month Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan.
Shares in cosmetics company Shiseido plunged nearly 10% while department store chain Takashimaya and the owner of global fashion chain Uniqlo fell more than 5% in early trading.
China has consistently ranked among the top sources of tourists visiting Japan.
The share price falls came after the dispute between Beijing and Tokyo has deepened in recent days.
On Sunday, the Chinese government urged its citizens to reconsider studying in Japan, citing risks to their safety and a rise in crimes targeting Chinese people.
China’s Education Ministry also told students already based in Japan to closely monitor the security situation.
Last year, more than 100,000 Chinese students were enrolled in educational institutions in Japan, according to a Japanese government survey.
Also over the weekend, Chinese airlines – including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Air China – offered refunds for flights to Japan.
Takaichi said in the Japanese parliament on 7 November: “If there are battleships and the use of force, no matter how you think about it, it could constitute a survival-threatening situation.”
A “survival-threatening situation” is a legal term under Japan’s 2015 security law, referring to when an armed attack on its allies presents an existential threat to Tokyo.
In such a situation, Japan’s self-defence forces can be called upon to respond to the threat.
Taiwan lies around 100km (60 miles) south of the closest Japanese island.
Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will, eventually, be part of the country, and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this.
But many Taiwanese consider themselves to be part of a separate nation – although most are in favour of maintaining the status quo where Taiwan neither declares independence from China nor unites with it.
Why is Merino wool demand increasing?
Saudi Arabia restricts Hajj 2026 for seriously ill pilgrims
Siemens Surges Over 4% Despite Weak Q2 Results: Why Is Stock Price Rising Today?
-
Entertainment1 week agoChina unveils￡5.4 bn Fujian, its most advanced aircraft carrier yet
-
Tech7 days agoFrom waste to asset: Turning ethanol production CO₂ into jet fuel
-
Tech2 days agoNew carbon capture method uses water and pressure to remove CO₂ from emissions at half current costs
-
Politics3 days agoBritish-Pakistani honoured for transforming UK halal meat industry
-
Sports1 day agoTexas A&M officer scolds South Carolina wide receiver after touchdown; department speaks out
-
Sports1 week ago
College football winners and losers: The catch of the year saves Indiana
-
Business1 week agoMore than 1,000 flights cancelled as US air traffic cuts enter second day
-
Sports1 week ago
The next Tom Brady? No, Drake Maye is a different breed.