First Great Western (FGW) customers will soon be able to sit back and relax with a choice of television favourites as a world first in on-train services takes to the tracks.

The company has teamed up with Volo TV to install touch-screen television screens on the back of every seat in one coach on-board a High Speed Train to bring a choice of on-demand, high quality programmes to customers.

The first of a series of new entertainment carriages is now whizzing around the First Great Western network, and work is being carried out at the company’s Laira Depot in Plymouth to install screens on all 54 High Speed Trains by the end of next year.

Customers can choose from comedy, drama, documentaries, children’s programmes and sport and will be able to pause, fast-forward and rewind at their leisure. Other features include the latest news as well as a moving map.

The scheme follows positive feedback from customers who sampled a pilot of the system on the company’s Night Riviera Sleeper.

Headphones are required for the service and customers can either bring their own or buy a pair, priced at £2.50, from the Buffet Car on the train.

Volo TV’s Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Noble, said: “We hope our systems will take entertainment on trains to a level never seen before in the world. We’re pleased to be working closely with FGW and confident there’ll be no better way to travel.”

Every customer will be able to try the entertainment system completely free of charge on their first journey, after which it will cost just £3.95 each time they use Volo TV.  In addition customers will receive unlimited free access until February 28, 2010, when they sign up at www.volo.tv.

First Great Western Customer Service and Commercial Director, Neil Micklethwaite, said “We’re very excited about the new systems and are looking forward to find out what our customers have to say about them.”