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News Release 21st June 2006MOBILE PHONES IN TUNNELSAt a dinner last night (Tuesday 20th April) at the House of Commons of the Lichfield Commuters' Club hosted by Michael Fabricant, it was revealed that enhanced mobile phone and wi-fi computer technology will be available on all Pendolino trains from around April next year. Tony Mercado, Managing Director of Alstom West Coast Traincare who maintain the Pendolino fleet operated by Virgin Trains, revealed that all Pendolinos - including those that run from Lichfield to London and Manchester - will be equipped with technology that will enable mobile phones and wi-fi enabled lap-tops to remain connected to the network even when travelling through tunnels. Michael Fabricant says: "This is good news for the many commuters who make use of their journey time to work on the train. I am ever mindful, however, of the disturbance mobile phones can cause to other passengers and hope that the designated 'quiet carriages' will remain sanctuaries from irritating ring tones and even more irritating callers who feel the need to shout into their phones!" Meanwhile, the dinner and discussion, attended by around two dozen commuters from Lichfield, Shenstone and the surrounding area, was punctuated by World Cup England v Sweden match news taken off Michael Fabricant's BlackBerry (mobile phone) which was linked to the BBC's Sports internet website. Discussions over dinner included the reliability of Pendolino toilets and the need to pump sewage up over the toilet. |
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