AN innovative design by a Malvern company is revolutionising train travel on the Continent - and making air travel redundant.

21 Net, which is based in Worcester Road, has become the first in the world to offer broadband internet on trains.

It has just delivered the first trials on a new system on journeys between Brussels and Paris, and as Donald Dundonald, one of 21 Net's directors, pointed out, these have been so successful there are now no direct flights between the two cities.

"Business people in particular have taken to the scheme as it is the only way they can work on the move," he said.

"They can't do this if they are driving and the facilities are not available on planes because it interferes with controls.

"People have been able to use the internet before, but it has been slow and unreliable.

"Broadband means people can send e-mails and find out any information in the quickest time with a wireless connection. They have access to all the information they want while on the go.

"The idea of using travel time productively has caught on and is now so successful on the trial trains, flights between Brussels and Paris have been cancelled."

Unfortunately, the system, which uses a satellite communications terminal mounted on the roof of trains, will not be used in the UK as the country's low tunnels make it impossible to fit the equipment.

But 21 Net said it is in the process of developing a flat system, which it hopes will attract the attention of British operators.

"We are desperately working on a design that could be used in the UK as we would like British people to benefit too," added Mr Dundonald.

The trials have been funded by a £1.2m deal lead by Birmingham firm Midven and a £0.9m European Space Agency grant.