A man from Bromley has been charged in connection with a cyber security breach that disrupted Network Rail’s public Wi-Fi services at major railway stations across the UK.
John Andreas Wik, 36, of Limes Road, Beckenham, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 11, 2025. He faces charges related to publishing or distributing written material intended to stir up religious hatred.
The Cyber Attack on Network Rail
The incident took place on September 25, 2024, around 4 pm, when passengers at multiple key railway stations reported that the public Wi-Fi service, managed by Network Rail through a third-party provider, was displaying inflammatory content designed to incite religious hatred.
Affected stations included major hubs like London Euston, Manchester Piccadilly, and Birmingham New Street. The compromised content appeared on the Wi-Fi login pages, replacing the usual interface with disturbing messages and images.
Network Rail, responsible for overseeing 20 key stations across the country, immediately suspended the Wi-Fi service to prevent the spread of the offensive material. London St Pancras was the only station unaffected, while the other 19 stations were left temporarily without Wi-Fi access as investigations began.
Investigation and Arrest
The British Transport Police (BTP) launched an urgent investigation into the cyber attack, identifying it as a serious “cyber security incident.” After tracing the source of the breach, officers arrested John Andreas Wik at his Bromley residence.
According to BTP, the attack was executed through an “unauthorised change” to the Wi-Fi landing page, using a legitimate administrator account at Global Reach, the operator contracted by Telent, Network Rail’s third-party provider.
A BTP spokesperson stated:
“Officers began urgent enquiries after receiving various reports of a cyber security incident affecting some Network Rail Wi-Fi services.”
Telent, the company responsible for maintaining the Wi-Fi network, confirmed that no personal data had been compromised during the breach, reassuring the public amid growing concerns about cyber threats.
Legal Proceedings and Public Safety Concerns
The case against Wik has raised important questions about the security of public digital infrastructure and the risks associated with unauthorised access to systems that serve millions of commuters.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that incidents like this could erode public trust in digital services offered at transport hubs. Network Rail and its partners have since taken measures to enhance their cyber defenses and prevent similar incidents.
John Andreas Wik’s court appearance on April 11 will mark a critical moment in the investigation, as authorities seek to address the breach and reinforce the importance of safeguarding public digital services.
Further updates will follow as the legal proceedings continue.
