COMMUNITIES in one of Cumbria's remotest valleys are now benefiting from  the latest high-speed communications technology.

Fibre broadband is available to 180 homes and businesses along the Ravenglass and Eskdale  Railway, thanks to the Connecting Cumbria partnership.

One-in-five households and businesses in Ravenglass have already signed up to a high-speed fibre service.

Engineers from Openreach – BT’s local network business - have switched on two new green fibre broadband roadside cabinets in Ravenglass and, most recently, in Eskdale Green.

Rachel Bell, group marketing and events manager from the narrow-gauge steam railway, the area's main tourist attraction, said that fibre broadband was essential to the  success of the railway.

She said: "We offer a free wi-fi service to customers at both ends of the line, in the station cafés and within the accommodation available on site.

“Customers use this for a raft of reasons from general browsing to the downloading of the commentary app which supports their rail journey. They also use it to take pictures and upload to their social media accounts.

“At peak times of the day service levels can struggle with the demands placed on it. The availability of wi-fi services has become an expectation within the tourism sector.

"Any increase in broadband speed will only support us in doing this.” 

Since October 2013, the Connecting Cumbria project – a partnership between Cumbria County Council and BT - has installed more than 500 fibre broadband cabinets, with more being switched on every day.

More than 119,000 households and businesses now have access to fibre as a result of the project.

Dawn Pickles, clerk to Eskdale Parish Council, said: “The provision of superfast broadband to Eskdale, the 'hidden valley' in the remote western lakes, is a vital part of our hopes to retain a viable, inclusive community.

“It will enable our children and students to reliably complete online study and communicate with school friends from other villages.

"It will enable older and disabled residents to maintain their independence, by using online ordering and medical services, and it will be a boon to home-working residents.

“The benefits to our local businesses will be enormous, allowing better use of websites and the provision of better visitor facilities such as free wi-fi in our hotels and guest accommodation."