First Great Western News

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.

British Airways welcomes rail companies into fold with single ticket journeys
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.

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Additional services for Severn Beach line launched
First Great Western launched additional evening services on the Severn Beach Line on Monday 17 September.

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.