Free wifi will be provided at 25 train stations across the country.
All of ScotRail’s class 380 trains will also have wifi by March next year, according to a joint announcement by ScotRail and Transport Scotland.
The 38 trains, the newest in the ScotRail fleet, are used between Glasgow Central and Ayrshire; Inverclyde and Renfrewshire; and Edinburgh and North Berwick/Dunbar.
From October, around six trains are scheduled to be fitted with wifi every month, thanks to around £1 million of public funding.
The Scottish Government is providing £250,000 to help ScotRail install wifi by December next year at Aberdeen, Anniesland, Ayr, Dalmarnock, Dundee, Dunfermline Town, Edinburgh Haymarket, Edinburgh Park, Exhibition Centre, Falkirk High, Fort William, Glasgow Central, Glasgow Queen Street, Helensburgh Central, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Linlithgow, Mount Florida, Paisley Gilmour Street, Partick, Perth, Stirling and Wemyss Bay.
Wifi will also be installed at Gleneagles station as part of its refurbishment for next year’s Ryder Cup.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “We are committed to ensuring that rail travel across Scotland is an attractive option for tourists, commuters and business users.
“Giving passengers the ability to connect to the internet at 25 stations and on all class 380 trains throughout Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Lanarkshire and the Lothians will provide more opportunities for people to switch to the rail network whilst keeping up-to-date with the latest information.
“In 2014 the eyes of the world will be on Scotland and we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase what we have to offer as a modern country.
“I am pleased that in advance of the major events taking place in 2014, visitors flying into Prestwick and Glasgow International airports, who then join the rail network, will be able to get access to wifi on every train.
“Combined with the station enhancements, this will help keep Scotland’s railways at the forefront of wifi installation. We will continue to explore ways of getting more people connected when travelling by train between all seven Scottish cities.”
ScotRail managing director Steve Montgomery said: “We considered several factors when selecting stations to receive wifi, including footfall, how long people stay in the station, number of services and the impact of major events such as the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup. We have longer-term plans for further stations to receive wifi in future.”
Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said “This is great news and a first-class project from both the Scottish Government and ScotRail. The ability for businesses to remain connected whilst travelling will enable us to be more productive and makes best use of our time. There is no doubt this will encourage more people to travel by rail.”