First Great Western
Encyclopedia
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London
, the South East
, South West
and West Midlands
regions of England, and South Wales
.
On 1 April 2006, First Great Western, First Great Western Link
and Wessex Trains
combined into the new Greater Western Franchise
. First was announced as the operator of the combined franchise in December 2005 for a 7 year period.
First Great Western operates high-speed services between London Paddington, the Cotswolds
, South Wales
and the West Country
, commuter services in London and the Thames Valley, regional services between south-east Wales and south-west England, and local services in the south-west of England. It operates 210 stations and its services call at over 270.
First Great Western operates a large diesel fleet. High-speed services are operated by British Rail Class 43 (HST)
locomotive
s with Mk3
coaches. Commuter services in the Thames Valley use Class 165
and Class 166
Thames Turbo trains, while local services in the south-west are operated with a variety of two- and three-car DMUs
.
was formed as part of the privatisation of British Rail
. As with all of the original franchises, Great Western was formed as a division of British Rail prior to the franchise being let. The sector consisted of the express services out of London Paddington
to the West of England (Bristol, Exeter
) and South Wales (Cardiff
).
The holding company Great Western Holdings
, which was part-owned by the Badgerline bus group, won the new Great Western franchise. Badgerline later became FirstGroup after a merger with the GRT Group
, and in 1998 it bought Great Western Trains outright, rebranding it as First Great Western.
was the former Go-Ahead Group
-operated Thames Trains
franchise that had been operated since April 2004 by First Group.
First Great Western Link provided train services from Paddington to destinations such as , , Didcot
, , , , , , , Worcester
and . Train services are also provided from Reading to (via and ), and from Reading to .
The Thames Valley routes were initially privatised in the mid- 1990s and sold partly to the managers who had operated the trains under the nationalised British Rail and partly to Go-Ahead Group. They later passed into the sole control of Go-Ahead Group
, which operated them as Thames Trains
.
came into being on 14 October 2001 when the former Wales and West and Valley Lines franchises were reorganised. Wales and West Passenger Trains Ltd took on the trading name of Wessex Trains and the operation of services in southwest England. The company was owned by National Express Group
. Wessex Trains ran the majority of local trains in the South West. It did not run the high-speed long distance trains.
PLC, and Stagecoach Group
— were short-listed to bid for this new franchise. On 13 December 2005 it was announced that First Group had won the franchise. The new franchise has kept the name First Great Western. Originally, First planned to subdivide its services into three categories based on routes. However, following feedback from staff and stakeholders, the decision was taken to re-brand and re-livery all services as 'First Great Western'.
First Great Western operates inter-city services to and from London Paddington
:
Two trains per day Mon-Fri and one train per day return start/finish at Worcester Shrub Hill. The return service also calls at Maidenhead.
Many services, when there are engineering works on the South Wales line, go via this route (the Golden Valley Line
) to reach Cardiff and the rest of South Wales. These trains serve Gloucester
but not Cheltenham Spa railway station
, and lead to the Cheltenham/Swindon local trains being removed.
First Great Western operates a number of named passenger trains, including:
The Bristolian (London-Bristol),
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, the South East
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
, South West
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
and West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
regions of England, and South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
.
On 1 April 2006, First Great Western, First Great Western Link
First Great Western Link
First Great Western Link was a train operating company owned by First Group that provided train services, on a franchise basis, from Paddington Station to destinations such as Greenford, Slough, Reading, Didcot, Oxford, Goring and Streatley, Henley-on-Thames, Newbury, Bedwyn, Hereford, Worcester...
and Wessex Trains
Wessex Trains
Wessex Trains was the primary passenger rail operator in the South West of England. The company operated trains in the region bounded by Penzance, Cardiff, Gloucester, Worcester and Brighton...
combined into the new Greater Western Franchise
Rail franchising in Great Britain
Rail franchising in Great Britain was created by the Railways Act 1993. Passenger services are franchised, for a limited period, to train operating companies...
. First was announced as the operator of the combined franchise in December 2005 for a 7 year period.
First Great Western operates high-speed services between London Paddington, the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
and the West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
, commuter services in London and the Thames Valley, regional services between south-east Wales and south-west England, and local services in the south-west of England. It operates 210 stations and its services call at over 270.
First Great Western operates a large diesel fleet. High-speed services are operated by British Rail Class 43 (HST)
British Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s with Mk3
British Rail Mark 3
British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
coaches. Commuter services in the Thames Valley use Class 165
British Rail Class 165
The British Rail Class 165 Turbo is a fleet of suburban diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by BREL at York Works between 1990 and 1992...
and Class 166
British Rail Class 166
The British Rail Class 166 Turbo Express is a fleet of diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by ABB at York Works between 1992 and 1993...
Thames Turbo trains, while local services in the south-west are operated with a variety of two- and three-car DMUs
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
.
First Great Western (1998–2006)
Great Western TrainsGreat Western Trains
Great Western Trains was a UK train company created in the mid 1990s as part of the privatisation of British Rail. It was one of the first two passenger companies to be privatised, passing into private ownership along with South West Trains on 4 February 1996....
was formed as part of the privatisation of British Rail
Privatisation of British Rail
The privatisation of British Rail was set in motion when the Conservative government enacted, on 19 January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
. As with all of the original franchises, Great Western was formed as a division of British Rail prior to the franchise being let. The sector consisted of the express services out of London Paddington
Paddington station
Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex.The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates...
to the West of England (Bristol, Exeter
Exeter St Davids railway station
Exeter St Davids station is the most important of seven National Rail stations in the city of Exeter in southwest England. Today the station is owned by Network Rail and operated by First Great Western.-History:...
) and South Wales (Cardiff
Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
).
The holding company Great Western Holdings
Great Western Holdings
Great Western Holdings was a company created to bid for the Great Western rail franchise in the United Kingdom. The company consisted of 51 per cent management buyout 24.5 per cent Badgerline and 24.5 per cent 3i. The company won the Great Western franchise and operated it under the name Great...
, which was part-owned by the Badgerline bus group, won the new Great Western franchise. Badgerline later became FirstGroup after a merger with the GRT Group
GRT Group
GRT Group plc was a bus operating company in the United Kingdom. Created in 1989 as a holding company to effect the buyout of Grampian Regional Transport , it grew by acquisition and in 1995 merged with Badgerline to create FirstBus plc, forerunner to worldwide transport company FirstGroup...
, and in 1998 it bought Great Western Trains outright, rebranding it as First Great Western.
First Great Western Link (2004–2006)
First Great Western LinkFirst Great Western Link
First Great Western Link was a train operating company owned by First Group that provided train services, on a franchise basis, from Paddington Station to destinations such as Greenford, Slough, Reading, Didcot, Oxford, Goring and Streatley, Henley-on-Thames, Newbury, Bedwyn, Hereford, Worcester...
was the former Go-Ahead Group
Go-Ahead Group
The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
-operated Thames Trains
Thames Trains
Thames Trains was a British railway company, owned by the Go-Ahead Group, franchised to run regional and suburban trains from London Paddington station to destinations in the home counties west of London like Slough, to Worcester, Hereford and Stratford-upon-Avon, and the Reading to Gatwick Airport...
franchise that had been operated since April 2004 by First Group.
First Great Western Link provided train services from Paddington to destinations such as , , Didcot
Didcot Parkway railway station
Didcot Parkway is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. The station was opened as Didcot on 12 June 1844, and renamed Didcot Parkway on 29 July 1985 to reflect its role as a park and ride railhead....
, , , , , , , Worcester
Worcester Shrub Hill railway station
Worcester Shrub Hill railway station is one of two railway stations serving the city of Worcester in Worcestershire, England. It is managed by London Midland, and it is also served by First Great Western....
and . Train services are also provided from Reading to (via and ), and from Reading to .
The Thames Valley routes were initially privatised in the mid- 1990s and sold partly to the managers who had operated the trains under the nationalised British Rail and partly to Go-Ahead Group. They later passed into the sole control of Go-Ahead Group
Go-Ahead Group
The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
, which operated them as Thames Trains
Thames Trains
Thames Trains was a British railway company, owned by the Go-Ahead Group, franchised to run regional and suburban trains from London Paddington station to destinations in the home counties west of London like Slough, to Worcester, Hereford and Stratford-upon-Avon, and the Reading to Gatwick Airport...
.
Wessex Trains (2001–2006)
Wessex TrainsWessex Trains
Wessex Trains was the primary passenger rail operator in the South West of England. The company operated trains in the region bounded by Penzance, Cardiff, Gloucester, Worcester and Brighton...
came into being on 14 October 2001 when the former Wales and West and Valley Lines franchises were reorganised. Wales and West Passenger Trains Ltd took on the trading name of Wessex Trains and the operation of services in southwest England. The company was owned by National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
. Wessex Trains ran the majority of local trains in the South West. It did not run the high-speed long distance trains.
First Greater Western (2006–2013)
On 1 April 2006, First Great Western, First Great Western Link and Wessex Trains combined into the new Greater Western franchise. Three companies — First Group plc, National Express GroupNational Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
PLC, and Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
— were short-listed to bid for this new franchise. On 13 December 2005 it was announced that First Group had won the franchise. The new franchise has kept the name First Great Western. Originally, First planned to subdivide its services into three categories based on routes. However, following feedback from staff and stakeholders, the decision was taken to re-brand and re-livery all services as 'First Great Western'.
Future (April 2013 onwards)
In May 2011, First GreatWestern announced that it had opted not to take up the option to extend its contract beyond the end of March 2013, thereby forcing the UK Government to start a tender process for a new operator for the franchise from that date. FGW issued a press release in which it commented that, in light of the £1bn plan to electrify the Great Western route from London via Bristol to Cardiff, it wanted to try to negotiate a longer-term deal, with CEO Tim O'Toole saying: "We believe we are best placed to manage these projects and capture the benefits through a longer-term franchise (than the contractual extension would have allowed)." It should be noted that, in exercising the option to terminate its contract three years early, FGW has avoided having to pay £826.6m to the government; in 2010, it received extra subsidies totalling £133m from the government.Intercity routes
Paddington station
Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex.The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates...
:
- South Wales:
- 1tph Calling at: ReadingReading railway stationReading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
, Didcot ParkwayDidcot Parkway railway stationDidcot Parkway is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. The station was opened as Didcot on 12 June 1844, and renamed Didcot Parkway on 29 July 1985 to reflect its role as a park and ride railhead....
, SwindonSwindon railway stationSwindon railway station is in the town of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The station entrance is on Station Road, to the south of the line.It is approximately from the central bus station and the town centre...
, Bristol ParkwayBristol Parkway railway stationBristol Parkway railway station is situated in Stoke Gifford in the northern suburbs of Bristol, England. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail, and is managed by First Great Western....
, NewportNewport railway stationNewport railway station is the 3rd busiest railway station in Wales , situated in Newport city centre. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although First Great Western and CrossCountry also provide services...
and Cardiff CentralCardiff Central railway stationCardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
. The Capitals Express up service to London Paddington from Swansea avoids calling at Reading, the only service that runs non-stop through Reading. - 1tph Calling at: ReadingReading railway stationReading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
, SwindonSwindon railway stationSwindon railway station is in the town of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The station entrance is on Station Road, to the south of the line.It is approximately from the central bus station and the town centre...
, Bristol ParkwayBristol Parkway railway stationBristol Parkway railway station is situated in Stoke Gifford in the northern suburbs of Bristol, England. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail, and is managed by First Great Western....
, NewportNewport railway stationNewport railway station is the 3rd busiest railway station in Wales , situated in Newport city centre. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although First Great Western and CrossCountry also provide services...
, Cardiff CentralCardiff Central railway stationCardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
, BridgendBridgend railway stationBridgend railway station is a mainline railway station serving the town of Bridgend, South Wales. It is located approximately halfway between Cardiff Central and Swansea at the point where the Maesteg Line diverges from the South Wales Main Line, and is the western terminus of the Vale of...
, Port Talbot ParkwayPort Talbot Parkway railway stationPort Talbot Parkway railway station is a railway station in Port Talbot, Wales. The station is located at street level near Station Road in Port Talbot town centre.-History:...
, NeathNeath railway stationNeath railway station is a mainline railway station, serving Neath, Wales. The station is located at street level on Windsor Road in Neath town centre...
and SwanseaSwansea railway stationSwansea railway station is a railway station that serves Swansea, Wales. The station is one of four in the City and County of Swansea and is the fourth busiest in Wales after Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street and Newport.-History:...
- Most peak services continue to SwanseaSwansea railway stationSwansea railway station is a railway station that serves Swansea, Wales. The station is one of four in the City and County of Swansea and is the fourth busiest in Wales after Cardiff Central, Cardiff Queen Street and Newport.-History:...
and call at Didcot ParkwayDidcot Parkway railway stationDidcot Parkway is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. The station was opened as Didcot on 12 June 1844, and renamed Didcot Parkway on 29 July 1985 to reflect its role as a park and ride railhead....
. - Swansea trains are extended to CarmarthenCarmarthen railway stationCarmarthen railway station is situated south of the River Towy on the edge of the town of Carmarthen. It is located on the West Wales Line and is managed by Arriva Trains Wales, who operate most of the passenger trains serving it...
once daily, and three times a day on Sundays, calling at LlanelliLlanelli railway stationLlanelli railway station is the railway station serving the town of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the West Wales Line and the Heart of Wales Line...
and Pembrey and Burry PortPembrey and Burry Port railway stationPembrey and Burry Port railway station is a railway station on the West Wales Line serving Pembrey and Burry Port, in Carmarthenshire, Wales.There is an hourly service to Manchester Piccadilly via Swansea, Cardiff Central, Shrewsbury and Crewe....
. The up morning mon-fri Carmarthen extension also calls at and FerrysideFerryside railway stationFerryside railway station serves the seaside village of Ferryside, Carmarthenshire. The station is unmanned and is a request stop, this means that if you are on the train you must advise the train manager that you wish to alight at Ferryside. Likewise if you wish to board the train you must...
on request only. - Two trains per day on summer Saturdays are extended to Pembroke DockPembroke Dock railway stationPembroke Dock railway station serves the town of Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire, Wales.The station is served by a regular daily service to/from Swansea via Whitland, with connections for the South Wales mainline available at Swansea....
calling at WhitlandWhitland railway stationWhitland railway station serves the town of Whitland in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the main route of the West Wales Line from Swansea. To the west of the station, the lines diverge, with one branch serving Pembroke and the other Milford Haven or Fishguard...
, NarberthNarberth railway stationNarberth railway station serves the town of Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The station is on the West Wales Line, 32 km west of .- Services :...
, , SaundersfootSaundersfoot railway stationSaundersfoot railway station serves the seaside village of Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is managed by Arriva Trains Wales. It is usually a request stop apart from the limited stop First Great Western Pembroke Dock services which make a scheduled stop here. The station is a mile from the...
, TenbyTenby railway stationTenby railway station serves the town of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It lies on the Pembroke Dock branch of the West Wales Line operated by Arriva Trains Wales, who also manage the station. The only passing loop on the Whitland to Pembroke Dock branch is located at the station and as such east...
, , ManorbierManorbier railway stationManorbier railway station serves the village of Manorbier in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It lies on the Pembroke Dock branch of the West Wales Line operated by Arriva Trains Wales. There are only a handful of services along this line....
, LampheyLamphey railway stationLamphey railway station serves the village of Lamphey in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It lies on the Pembroke Dock branch of the West Wales Line operated by Arriva Trains Wales. There are only a handful of services along this line. Trains only call here on request....
and .
- Most peak services continue to Swansea
- 1tph Calling at: Reading
- Bristol
- 1tph Calling at: ReadingReading railway stationReading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
, SwindonSwindon railway stationSwindon railway station is in the town of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The station entrance is on Station Road, to the south of the line.It is approximately from the central bus station and the town centre...
, ChippenhamChippenham railway stationChippenham railway station serves the market town of Chippenham in Wiltshire, England. The station is on the Great Western Main Line, in between and , and is served by First Great Western main line services between Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington, and a smaller First Great Western local...
, Bath SpaBath Spa railway stationBath Spa railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Bath, in South West England.-Architecture:Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Brunel and is a grade II* listed building...
and Bristol Temple MeadsBristol Temple Meads railway stationBristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
. - 1tph Calling at: ReadingReading railway stationReading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
, Didcot ParkwayDidcot Parkway railway stationDidcot Parkway is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. The station was opened as Didcot on 12 June 1844, and renamed Didcot Parkway on 29 July 1985 to reflect its role as a park and ride railhead....
, SwindonSwindon railway stationSwindon railway station is in the town of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The station entrance is on Station Road, to the south of the line.It is approximately from the central bus station and the town centre...
, ChippenhamChippenham railway stationChippenham railway station serves the market town of Chippenham in Wiltshire, England. The station is on the Great Western Main Line, in between and , and is served by First Great Western main line services between Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington, and a smaller First Great Western local...
, Bath SpaBath Spa railway stationBath Spa railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Bath, in South West England.-Architecture:Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Brunel and is a grade II* listed building...
and Bristol Temple MeadsBristol Temple Meads railway stationBristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest railway station in Bristol, England. It is an important transport hub for public transport in Bristol, with bus services to various parts of the city and surrounding districts, and a ferry service to the city centre in addition to the...
.- Extension to calling at , , and Weston MiltonWeston Milton railway stationWeston Milton railway station serves the Milton and Locking Castle areas of Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset. It is situated on a loop off the Bristol to Taunton Line- History :...
.
- Extension to calling at , , and Weston Milton
- 1tph Calling at: Reading
- South West England:
- 1tph Calling at Reading, , , , Newton AbbotNewton Abbot railway stationNewton Abbot railway station serves the town of Newton Abbot in Devon, England. It is from London on the Exeter to Plymouth line via the Reading to Taunton line, at the junction for the branch to . For many years it was also the junction for Moretonhampstead and the site of a large locomotive...
, TotnesTotnes railway stationTotnes railway station serves the towns of Totnes and Dartington in Devon, England. It is situated on the Exeter to Plymouth line and is operated by First Great Western...
and PlymouthPlymouth railway stationPlymouth railway station serves the city of Plymouth, Devon, England. It is situated on the northern edge of the city centre close to the North Cross roundabout...
with 1tp2h continuing to , Bodmin ParkwayBodmin Parkway railway stationBodmin Parkway railway station is a station on the Cornish Main Line and serves the nearby town of Bodmin, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is west of , in the civil parish of St Winnow....
, ParPar railway stationPar Station is a railway station serving the village and port of Par, Cornwall, England in the United Kingdom. It is the junction for the Atlantic Coast Line to Newquay. The station is operated by First Great Western, and served by trains operated by both First Great Western and...
, St AustellSt Austell railway stationSt Austell Station serves the town of St Austell, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is operated by First Great Western, as is every other station in Cornwall....
, TruroTruro railway stationTruro Station serves the city of Truro, Cornwall, UK. It is the situated on the Cornish Main Line and is the junction for the Maritime Line to Falmouth. The station is operated by First Great Western....
, RedruthRedruth railway stationRedruth Station serves the town of Redruth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is operated by First Great Western as is every other station in Cornwall.-First station:Located at ...
, CamborneCamborne railway stationCamborne railway station serves the town of Camborne, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It has been in use since 1843 and is currently operated by First Great Western. Services are provided by First Great Western and CrossCountry.-History:...
, HayleHayle railway stationHayle railway station serves the town of Hayle, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is operated by First Great Western and is on the Cornish Main Line north east of .-History:...
, St ErthSt Erth railway stationSt Erth railway station is situated at Rose-an-Grouse in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It serves the nearby village of St Erth, which is about away, and is the junction for the St Ives Bay Line to St Ives.-History:...
and .- During peak hours additional calls are made at stations such as , and
- 3tpd run directly to PaigntonPaignton railway stationPaignton railway station is the railway station serving Paignton in Devon, England. It is the terminus of the Riviera Line from Exeter and is also an interchange between National Rail services and the preserved Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway.-History:...
- Some South West England trains run via Bristol.
- Limited summer-only services to NewquayNewquay railway stationNewquay railway station is the terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line that runs from Par railway station. It is operated by First Great Western and is situated close to the town centre and beaches in Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK.-History:...
calling at Exeter St Davids, Plymouth (set down only) and ParPar railway stationPar Station is a railway station serving the village and port of Par, Cornwall, England in the United Kingdom. It is the junction for the Atlantic Coast Line to Newquay. The station is operated by First Great Western, and served by trains operated by both First Great Western and...
.
- 1tph Calling at Reading, , , , Newton Abbot
- Cheltenham
- Calling at ReadingReading railway stationReading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
, Didcot ParkwayDidcot Parkway railway stationDidcot Parkway is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. The station was opened as Didcot on 12 June 1844, and renamed Didcot Parkway on 29 July 1985 to reflect its role as a park and ride railhead....
, SwindonSwindon railway stationSwindon railway station is in the town of Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The station entrance is on Station Road, to the south of the line.It is approximately from the central bus station and the town centre...
, KembleKemble railway stationKemble railway station is a railway station that serves the village of Kemble in Gloucestershire. The station is located on the Swindon to Gloucester "Golden Valley" line. Despite its rural location, Kemble station has a high number of passengers, due mainly to the proximity of...
, StroudStroud railway stationStroud railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Stroud in Gloucestershire, England. The station is located on the Swindon-Gloucester "Golden Valley" line.-History:...
, StonehouseStonehouse railway stationStonehouse railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, England. The station is located on the Swindon-Gloucester "Golden Valley" line.-History:...
and GloucesterGloucester railway stationGloucester railway station serves the city of Gloucester in England. The station was originally built as the terminus of the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway in 1840, but the arrival of the Bristol and Gloucester Railway and Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway in 1844, and then conversion...
.- Some services also call at .
- There is normally a direct train every two hours, with a CheltenhamCheltenham Spa railway stationCheltenham Spa railway station is in Gloucestershire, England, on the Bristol-Birmingham main line. It is managed by First Great Western and is about one mile from the town centre.-History:...
to Swindon train on the alternate hours, when through passengers must change at Swindon.
- Calling at Reading
Two trains per day Mon-Fri and one train per day return start/finish at Worcester Shrub Hill. The return service also calls at Maidenhead.
Many services, when there are engineering works on the South Wales line, go via this route (the Golden Valley Line
Golden Valley Line
The Golden Valley Line is a railway line from Swindon to Cheltenham in the UK.The line was originally built as the Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway in the 1840s...
) to reach Cardiff and the rest of South Wales. These trains serve Gloucester
Gloucester railway station
Gloucester railway station serves the city of Gloucester in England. The station was originally built as the terminus of the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway in 1840, but the arrival of the Bristol and Gloucester Railway and Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway in 1844, and then conversion...
but not Cheltenham Spa railway station
Cheltenham Spa railway station
Cheltenham Spa railway station is in Gloucestershire, England, on the Bristol-Birmingham main line. It is managed by First Great Western and is about one mile from the town centre.-History:...
, and lead to the Cheltenham/Swindon local trains being removed.
- Oxford and the Cotswolds
- Calling at SloughSlough railway stationSlough railway station, in Slough, Berkshire, England, is served by local services operated by First Great Western from to and intercity services on the Great Western Main Line, the original line of the Great Western Railway...
, ReadingReading railway stationReading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
and OxfordOxford railway stationOxford railway station is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about west of the city centre, northwest of Frideswide Square and the eastern end of Botley Road, and on the line linking with . It is also on the line for trains between and Hereford via...
- Some services are extended to Worcester and Malvern calling at HanboroughHanborough railway stationHanborough railway station is a railway station serving the village of Long Hanborough in Oxfordshire, England. As a result of the Cotswold Line being singled the former up platform is the only one now in use for both up and down trains...
, CharlburyCharlbury railway stationCharlbury railway station is a railway station serving the town of Charlbury in Oxfordshire, England. This station and all trains serving it are operated by First Great Western...
, ShiptonShipton railway stationShipton railway station serves the villages of Shipton-under-Wychwood and Milton-under-Wychwood in Oxfordshire, England. The station and all trains serving it are operated by First Great Western.-Services:...
, KinghamKingham railway stationKingham railway station in Oxfordshire is between the Oxfordshire village of Kingham and the Gloucestershire village of Bledington, to which it is closer...
, Moreton-in-MarshMoreton-in-Marsh railway stationMoreton-in-Marsh railway station is a railway station serving the town of Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire, England. It is on the Cotswold Line between and stations....
, HoneybourneHoneybourne railway stationHoneybourne railway station serves the village of Honeybourne in Worcestershire, England. It is on the Cotswold Line and was formerly a junction with four platforms.-History:...
, EveshamEvesham railway stationEvesham railway station is in the town of Evesham in Worcestershire, England. It is operated by First Great Western, and is between Honeybourne and Pershore stations on the Cotswold Line from Oxford to Worcester, Great Malvern and Hereford...
, PershorePershore railway station- External links :...
, Worcester Shrub HillWorcester Shrub Hill railway stationWorcester Shrub Hill railway station is one of two railway stations serving the city of Worcester in Worcestershire, England. It is managed by London Midland, and it is also served by First Great Western....
, Worcester Foregate StreetWorcester Foregate Street railway stationWorcester Foregate Street railway station, opened by the Great Western Railway in 1860, is situated in the centre of the city of Worcester, in Worcestershire, England. It is physically the smaller of the two stations serving the city, but is more centrally located...
, Malvern LinkMalvern Link railway stationMalvern Link railway station serves Malvern Link in Worcestershire, England. It is one of two stations serving the town of Malvern, the other being Great Malvern station....
and Great MalvernGreat Malvern railway stationGreat Malvern railway station serves the line between Worcester and Hereford. It is situated close to the centre of Great Malvern, England. It is one of two stations serving the town of Malvern, the other being Malvern Link station... - A limited number are extended to ColwallColwall railway stationColwall railway station is a railway station on the Cotswold Line serving the village of Colwall in Herefordshire. The station has one platform and seating but no ticket office or self-service machine .The station was opened in 1861, the same year as the Hereford and Worcester Railway Line.Today...
, LedburyLedbury railway stationLedbury station is a small railway station on the outskirts of the town of Ledbury on the Worcester to Hereford line in the English Midlands. It also has services to Birmingham as well as Cotswold Line trains to London....
and HerefordHereford railway stationHereford railway station serves the city of Hereford, England. Managed by Arriva Trains Wales, it lies on the Welsh Marches Line between Leominster and Abergavenny and is the western terminus of the Cotswold Line.The station has four platforms...
- Some services are extended to Worcester and Malvern calling at Hanborough
- Calling at Slough
Named trains
The Bristolian (London-Bristol),