High-tech gadgetry will be used to help improve mobile phone coverage on the Regional Rail Link from next year.
Last week the state government, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone announced the Regional Rail Connectivity Project.
The $18 million initiative was designed to boost mobile coverage along the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Traralgon and Seymour rail corridors, including the Tarneit and Wyndham Vale stations. In an Australian first, technology known as “in-train repeaters” will be installed on the Regional Rail Link’s VLocity fleet.
The repeaters replicate signals from mobile base stations close to the rail line, so train passengers receive a clear phone transmission inside each carriage.
Telstra’s Eastern Victoria area general manager Loretta Willaton said work had started to begin on the installation of repeaters on VLocity trains.
“Once completed, coverage for all commuters will go from less than 50 per cent to almost full network coverage,” she said.
“If successful, the repeaters will be rolled out on the entire VLocity fleet in 2018.”
Ms Willaton said that as part of the project, Telstra would also build eight mobile base stations at locations including Little River East and Quandong East.
“Passengers will begin to experience improved mobile coverage from the end of this year, with the construction of new mobile towers set to be completed in 2018,” she said.
“Once the project is completed Optus and Vodafone will also have full network coverage.”
Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister Philip Dalidakis said the boost in mobile network coverage would benefit businesses, workers and students.
