Aussie train passengers to benefit from mobile signal boosting technology

Victorian train passengers will soon benefit from boosted mobile phone signals as part of an Australian-first rollout of technology.

Nearly 17 months after the 13.5-million-U.S. dollar project was announced, Australia's three major mobile carriers - Telstra, Optus and Vodafone - have jumped on board.

The project will see "reception repeaters" installed in regional Victorian trains and 35 new mobile towers built along popular rail corridors.

The Victorian government and phone companies believe the project will eliminate mobile blackspots which have been a constant source of frustration for commuters.

Philip Dalidakis, Victoria's small business and innovation minister, said the "project is a massive win for commuters on our five busiest regional rail corridors."

"Regular commuters spend up to 20 hours per week on regional trains and we need to keep them connected so they can keep in touch with their loved ones and use their travel time productively," he said.

The delay in rolling the technology out is being blamed on difficulties in getting all the major carriers on board with the project.

"As frustrating as the delay has been, the outcome is significantly better by including all three major telco providers in the rollout," Dalidakis said.

"People are the real winners here. They can be with Optus today, Telstra tomorrow and Vodafone next week and never be worried that they'll miss an important call from a loved one or a vital work email to close a deal."

More than 15 million individual trips are taken on the Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Seymour and Traralgon regional train lines every year.

The technology which will be used is employed across more than 30 rail networks in Germany, Italy and Switzerland. Endit