The new fleet of trains bound for the South Coast line may not offer WiFi when they arrive in two years time.
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This is despite a key feature of the fleet being that they are WiFi-enabled.
Transport for NSW is conducting a three-year trial of free Wi-Fi - but only on 19 stations between Hornsby and Wyong.
Despite commuter grumbles about spotty internet coverage on South Coast services, no stations on this line will form part of the trial.
"Transport for NSW will use the learnings from the trial to inform future plans with respect to customers and connectivity needs," Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance replied to a question from Wollongong MP Paul Scully.
With the New Intercity Fleet not expected to arrive on the South Coast line until 2022 - a year before the trial ends - it raises the possibility that Wi-Fi will not be offered for at least the first 12 months of service.
The trial is funded by the Federal and NSW Governments and Telstra.
Mr Scully was unhappy that the South Coast line had not been included in the trial, saying a solution to black-spot issues on the line needed to be found.
"The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government just doesn't care about commuters along the South Coast line having access to improved passenger services, upgraded infrastructure, and now a free Wi-Fi trial," Mr Scully said.
"The South Coast line passes through two Government-held seats at Heathcote and Kiama and yet even these commuter populations have been ignored.
"The problems of connectivity on the South Coast Line are well known and yet continue to be ignored."
A Transport for NSW spokesman confirmed that Wi-Fi will not be offered when the new carriages are rolled out on the South Coast line.
"The New Intercity Fleet carriages will be Wi-Fi enabled however this feature will not be available when the first trains enter service," the Transport for NSW spokesman said.
"The NSW Government will continue to investigate providing Wi-Fi on both Intercity and Regional rail services."
Transport for NSW said the three-year trial included construction of 22 mobile phone base towers and installations inside the seven rail tunnels between Hornsby and Wyong.
The spokesman also said the rail line between Hornsby and Wyong travelled through some of the most rugged terrain on the rail network, with multiple tunnels, cuttings and mountains.
In the past that had made it difficult to build the infrastructure that is required to support mobile phone services.
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
