14 August 2012 Last updated at 10:21 ET

Free wi-fi for key Translink bus and rail routes

Free wi-fi is to be introduced on key Translink bus and rail services in Northern Ireland

Free wi-fi is to be introduced on key Translink bus and rail services in Northern Ireland.

The company said the initiative would be officially launched in coming months.

The move is hoped to make public transport a more attractive alternative to private vehicles.

Travellers will have faster access to online news, information and social media.

Translink will join ScotRail, Transport for London and Transport for South Hampshire as one of the few public transport companies in the UK offering a free wi-fi service.

On Monday, Translink said the project was entering the "final stages of testing wifi to be rolled out across key Goldline routes including coach services to Dublin and rail services including both NI Railways and Enterprise".

Translink's announcement was pre-empted by Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard who welcomed the news in a press-release earlier.

Mr Hazzard had asked the Department of Regional Development minister about plans to introduce such a scheme.

"The Gold Liner Service that runs between major towns and cities across the North will become more attractive to commuters with the installation of wi-fi," he said.