If you are stuck in Peterborough train station because Network Rail is digging up the tracks yet again, you'll be glad that train operators National Express has free Wi-Fi on board. In fact, the service has become so popular, the company reports that usage has grown three-fold over the last month since the service became free. 

Beforehand, you had to have an expensive first class ticket to get free internet, but the company has seen the light and made it gratis to those of us that travel cattle class (Well, it does beat watching the scenery go past and you can at least keep up to date with the latest gadget news on Absolute Gadget without paying through the nose for the privilege).

Before the freebee internet users were running at 30,00 a month which then rose to over 100,000 in January alone.

Alan Hyde, head of communications at National Express East Coast, said: "The popularity of the service has surpassed our expectations and we are delighted to have had such a positive impact on people's journeys."

The train company found that more than 85 per cent of customers with a laptop  use the Wi-Fi service at some point during their journey.

Alan Hyde added: "Anecdotally, major employers along the East Coast route tell us that the addition of Wi-Fi is another reason for them to switch from air to rail, as it is much easier for their employees to stay in touch and keep working while on the move."

The East Coast Main Line runs from London King's Cross to the east Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside, north-east England and Scotland.

More here.