https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/tags/tag/first great western/ First Great Western News en Breaking Travel News Copyright 2026 2026-04-19T09:09:51+00:00 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-reveals-upgrade-plans-following-franchise-approval/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-reveals-upgrade-plans-following-franchise-approval/ First Great Western has announced proposals to deliver the largest train fleet upgrade in a generation on the Great Western network as part of its plans for the new franchise that starts in September, and will run until at least April 2019. In a deal put together with the department for transport, First Great Western’s plans would see the age of First Great Western’s train fleet cut by more than half, and would create for our customers 9,000 additional seats every day by the end of the franchise. Mon, 23 Mar 2015 12:36:09 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/british-airways-welcomes-rail-companies-into-fold-with-single-ticket-journe/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/british-airways-welcomes-rail-companies-into-fold-with-single-ticket-journe/ Britain’s biggest scheduled airline and two train companies are making international travel easier for their customers in Wales and the West of England. A single booking will now combine air and rail travel, with hassle-free connections, thanks to a new partnership between British Airways, Heathrow Express and First Great Western. From December 5th these tickets will be available to book through travel agents for travel from 11 First Great Western stations.  Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:03:08 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/majority-of-rail-services-to-be-restored-from-paddington/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/majority-of-rail-services-to-be-restored-from-paddington/ First Great Western (FGW) and Network Rail plan to restore the majority of services into and out of London Paddington from Monday 17th February. Tue, 18 Feb 2014 06:00:01 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/flybe-training-on-track-for-first-great-western/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/flybe-training-on-track-for-first-great-western/ A contract sealed between two of the country’s leading regional transport providers will see the internationally renowned Flybe Training Academy delivering a specially designed Customer Service training course to over 1,000 employees of First Great Western (FGW) rail over the next nine months. Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:00:38 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/vital-link-for-cornwall-gets-more-comfortable/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/vital-link-for-cornwall-gets-more-comfortable/ One of only three overnight ‘sleeper’ services in the country, First Great Western has updated old fashioned blankets for modern day duvets, ensuring all on-board can have an even more restful night’s sleep. Sat, 24 Nov 2012 00:00:49 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/bristol-temple-meads-one-of-first-stations-to-get-electric-trains/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/bristol-temple-meads-one-of-first-stations-to-get-electric-trains/ Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin visited Bristol Temple Meads station recently. He toured the station, which will play a key role in the electrification of the Great Western mainline and viewed the location for planned additional platforms. The visit follows the Government’s summer announcement to invest £9.4 billion in electrification and £4 billion in new intercity trains. Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:00:47 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/santa-rests-reindeer-and-takes-the-train-to-gunnislake/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/santa-rests-reindeer-and-takes-the-train-to-gunnislake/ Children in Plymouth will have the opportunity to tell Santa what is on their Christmas wish list this year as he visits the area on-board a converted First Great Western (FGW) train. Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:00:25 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-welcomes-east-west-rail-go-ahead/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-welcomes-east-west-rail-go-ahead/ First Great Western Managing Director Mark Hopwood has welcomed the decision to include the Western section of the East West Rail (EWR) in the Government’s strategy for transport. Fri, 26 Oct 2012 03:00:53 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-more-services-announced-for-the-avocet-line/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-more-services-announced-for-the-avocet-line/ First Great Western has announced that there will be extra Sunday services on the Avocet Line between Exmouth and Exeter for the six weeks running up to Christmas.  Starting next month trains will run every half hour on Sundays, instead of the usual hourly Sunday service. Thu, 25 Oct 2012 21:00:31 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/further-improvements-coming-to-bristol-temple-meads/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/further-improvements-coming-to-bristol-temple-meads/ First Great Western is to install additional ticket vending machines at Bristol Temple Meads as part of our on-going programme of improvement works. Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:16 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/additional-services-for-severn-beach-line-launched/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/additional-services-for-severn-beach-line-launched/ First Great Western launched additional evening services on the Severn Beach Line on Monday 17 September. Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:00:39 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/new-study-offers-bus-pass-holders-a-third-off-train-travel/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/new-study-offers-bus-pass-holders-a-third-off-train-travel/ Older and disabled people with bus passes will be able to get a third off train travel as part of a twelve-month First Great Western and Department For Transport (DfT) experiment. Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:00:37 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/new-station-manager-and-a-new-future-for-didcot-parkway/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/new-station-manager-and-a-new-future-for-didcot-parkway/ First Great Western is delighted to announce £2 million improvements works to Didcot Parkway Station have now started. Sat, 15 Sep 2012 18:00:22 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/government-announces-4.5-billion-investment-in-new-trains/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/government-announces-4.5-billion-investment-in-new-trains/ First Great Western welcomed the Government’s announcement to invest £4.5 billion in the next generation of intercity trains, which will benefit passengers travelling on the Great Western route. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 06:00:34 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-announce-new-trains-for-the-north-cotswolds/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-announce-new-trains-for-the-north-cotswolds/ First Great Western has launched new trains to operate throughout the north Cotswolds as part of the company’s commitment to deliver extra capacity and to upgrade the quality of services. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 06:00:09 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-to-launch-wifi-on-its-trains/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-to-launch-wifi-on-its-trains/ First Great Western has announced it will trial free WiFi on trains running between Paddington and the north Cotswolds, allowing passengers to check emails and browse the internet on their own WiFi-enabled devices. Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:00:35 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-government-announces-additional-rail-funding/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-government-announces-additional-rail-funding/ In response to the Government’s announcement that it is to invest more than £9billion in railway upgrades across England and Wales, First Great Western Managing Director, Mark Hopwood said: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:00:33 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-statement-on-western-rail-access-to-heathrow/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-statement-on-western-rail-access-to-heathrow/ Following the Government’s pledge of £500m for a western rail link to Heathrow, First Great Western Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:00:29 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-sees-47-growth-in-west-since-2006/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-sees-47-growth-in-west-since-2006/ First Great Western Managing Director, Mark Hopwood told delegates at TravelWatch South West’s AGM on 3 March that rail passenger numbers in the west have risen by some 47 per cent since the beginning of his company’s franchise - the equivalent of six million additional journeys every year. Thu, 08 Mar 2012 03:00:20 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-orders-revamp-and-roll-out-of-wifi-across-23-stations/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-orders-revamp-and-roll-out-of-wifi-across-23-stations/ First Great Western is enhancing 23 stations with the addition of free WiFi access. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:00:51 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-picks-up-speed-with-the-cloud/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-picks-up-speed-with-the-cloud/ Rail company orders revamp and roll-out of WiFi network across 23 of its stations. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:00:37 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-passenger-survey-scores-continue-upward-trend/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-passenger-survey-scores-continue-upward-trend/ First Great Western’s National Passenger Survey scores have continued their year on year upward trend for the fifth year running. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:00:04 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-sees-increased-travel-on-london-and-thames-valley-servi/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-sees-increased-travel-on-london-and-thames-valley-servi/ Train operator First Great Western is seeing more people travelling on its London and Thames Valley services during the traditionally quieter period between Christmas and New Year. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:00:05 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-breaks-cardiff-to-london-train-speed-record/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/first-great-western-breaks-cardiff-to-london-train-speed-record/ First Great Western successfully completed its attempt to break the record for the fastest train journey between Cardiff and London, completing the journey in 1hr 36min 19 sec and beating a record that stood for 23 years. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:00:01 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/response-to-planned-strike-action-by-network-rail-signallers-and-maintenanc/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/response-to-planned-strike-action-by-network-rail-signallers-and-maintenanc/ Some Network Rail colleagues have announced that they plan to take industrial action. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:13:32 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/early-morning-train-service-boost-for-devon-and-cornwall-business/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/early-morning-train-service-boost-for-devon-and-cornwall-business/ A new train service proposed by First Great Western to strengthen business links between the Westcountry and London has been approved by the Department for Transport. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:11:37 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/mp-praises-new-service-to-maidenhead/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/mp-praises-new-service-to-maidenhead/ On Wednesday 4th November, MP for Maidenhead Theresa May and First Great Western Managing Director, Mark Hopwood officially launched the 1750 fast service from Paddington which now stops at Maidenhead. Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:04:52 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/train-operator-all-set-for-a-world-first-in-on-board-enter-trainment/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/train-operator-all-set-for-a-world-first-in-on-board-enter-trainment/ 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. Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/1bn-to-electrify-300-mile-great-western-rail-line/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/1bn-to-electrify-300-mile-great-western-rail-line/ Great Western train line to be electrified… Electrification will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and will mean faster and more reliable services for millions of passengers Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:17:07 +0000 https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/network-rail-welcomes-government-support-for-wide-scale-electrification-pro/ https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/network-rail-welcomes-government-support-for-wide-scale-electrification-pro/ NETWORK Rail has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will support a £1.1 billion rolling programme of rail electrification, starting with the Great Western main line between London, Cardiff and Swansea and the Liverpool to Manchester route. Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:26:03 +0000