Great Western Railway (train operating company)

Train operating company in Great Britain

This article is about the 1996 company. For the 1833–1947 company, see Great Western Railway. For other uses, see Great Western Railway (disambiguation).

Great Western Railway

Class 43 Castles and Class 802 IET at Penzance

Overview
Franchise(s)|

* InterCity Great Western 4 February 1996 – 31 March 2006
* Greater Western 1 April 2006 – 25 June 2028[1]

Main region(s)|

* Greater London
* South East England
* South West England
* South Wales

Other region(s)|

* East Midlands
* West Midlands

Fleet|

* Class 08 shunting locos
* Class 43 HST Castle
* Class 57 diesel locomotives for Night Riviera
* Class 150 Sprinter
* Class 158 Express Sprinter
* Class 165 Networker Turbo
* Class 166 Networker Turbo
* Class 387 Electrostar
* Class 800 IET
* Class 802 IET

Stations called at| over 270[2]
Stations operated| 199
Parent company| FirstGroup
Headquarters| Swindon
Reporting mark| GW
Predecessor|

* First Great Western Link
* Wessex Trains

Technical
Track gauge| 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification|

* 25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE

Length| 1,323.0 mi (2,129.2 km)[citation needed]
Other
Website| www.gwr.com

System map

First Greater Western,[3][4] trading as Great Western Railway (GWR), is a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that provides services in the Greater Western franchise area. It manages 197 stations and its trains call at over 270. GWR operates long-distance inter-city services along the Great Western Main Line to and from the West of England and South Wales, inter-city services from London to the West Country via the Reading–Taunton line, and the Night Riviera sleeper service between London and Penzance. It provides outer-suburban services in West London; commuter services from its London terminus at London Paddington to the Thames Valley region, including parts of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire; and regional services throughout the West of England and South Wales to the South coast of England. Great Western Railway also operates the Heathrow Express service.

The company began operating in February 1996 as Great Western Trains, as part of the privatisation of British Rail. In December 1998, it became First Great Western after FirstGroup bought out its partners' shares in Great Western Holdings. In April 2006, First Great Western, First Great Western Link and Wessex Trains were combined into the new Greater Western franchise and brought under the First Great Western brand. The company adopted its current name and a new livery in September 2015 to coincide with the start of a newly extended contract that was subsequently extended to run until June 2028.

## History

[edit]

An InterCity 125 as operated by the original Great Western Trains franchise in 1996-1998

As part of the privatisation of British Rail, the Great Western InterCity franchise was awarded by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising to Great Western Holdings in December 1995, and it began operations on 4 February 1996. Great Western Holdings was owned by some former British Rail managers (51%), FirstBus (24.5%) and 3i (24.5%).[5][6]

In March 1998, FirstGroup bought out its partners' stakes to give it 100% ownership.[7][8][9] In December 1998, the franchise was rebranded First Great Western.[10][11]

On 1 April 2004, First Great Western Link began operating the Thames Trains franchise. It ran local services from Paddington to Slough, Henley-on-Thames, Reading, Didcot Parkway, Oxford, Newbury, Bedwyn, Worcester Shrub Hill, Hereford, Banbury and Stratford-upon-Avon. It also operated services from Reading to Gatwick Airport (via Guildford and Dorking), and from Reading to Basingstoke.[12]

First Great Western Link operated the Thames Trains franchise from April 2004 until it was absorbed into the Greater Western franchise in 2006.

On 1 April 2006, the Great Western, Great Western Link and Wessex Trains franchises were combined into a new Greater Western franchise. FirstGroup, National Express and Stagecoach were shortlisted to bid for it. On 13 December 2005, it was announced that FirstGroup had won the franchise.[13] Originally, First planned to subdivide its services into three categories based on routes.[14] Following feedback from staff and stakeholders, the decision was taken to re-brand and re-livery all services as 'First Great Western'.[15]

In May 2011, FirstGroup announced that it had decided not to take up the option to extend its franchise beyond the end of March 2013. It stated that, in the light of the £1 billion plan to electrify the Great Western route from London via Bristol to Cardiff, it wished to try to negotiate a longer-term deal. CEO Tim O'Toole said: "We believe we are best placed to manage these projects and capture the benefits through a longer-term franchise."[16]

By not taking up the option to extend its original franchise contract for a further three years, FirstGroup avoided having to pay £826.6 million to the government; it received extra subsidies totalling £133 million from the government in 2010.[17]

In March 2012, Arriva, FirstGroup, National Express and Stagecoach were shortlisted to bid for the new franchise. The winner was expected to be announced in December 2012, with the new franchisee taking over in April 2013.[18] But it was announced in July 2012 that the franchise would be extended, due to the late issue of the invitation to tender (ITT).[19] The ITT ran from the end of July until October 2012. The winner would have been announced in March 2013, and taken on the franchise from 21 July 2013 until the end of July 2028.[20] The new franchise would include the introduction of new Intercity Express Trains, capacity enhancements and smart ticketing.[21] The award of the franchise was again delayed in October 2012, while the Department for Transport (DfT) reviewed the way rail franchises were awarded.

In January 2013, the government announced that the current competition for the franchise had been aborted, and that FirstGroup's contract had been extended until October 2013.[22] A two-year franchise extension until September 2015 was agreed in October 2013,[23][24] and subsequently extended until March 2019.[25][26][27] A further extension to April 2019 was granted in March 2015.[28]

The refurbishment of first-class carriages in 2014 included interiors that featured a new GWR logo,[29] with no First branding. The whole company was rebranded Great Western Railway (GWR) on 20 September 2015,[30] with the introduction of a green livery in recognition of the former Great Western Railway which existed between 1835 and 1947.[31][32] The new livery was introduced when HST interiors were refurbished, and on sleeper carriages and Class 57/6 locomotives.[33]

In May 2018, TfL Rail – which later became the Elizabeth line – took over services from Paddington to Hayes & Harlington, and then some stopping services to Reading in December 2019,[34][35] becoming part of the Elizabeth line service.

In March 2020, the DfT awarded a further extension to 31 March 2023.[36][37]

In June 2022, the DfT replaced the franchise agreement with a direct award contract that expires on 25 June 2028, with an option to extend for a further three years.[1]

GWR was one of several train operators impacted by the 2022–2024 United Kingdom railway strikes, which were the first national rail strikes in the UK for three decades.[38]

## Routes

[edit]

Great Western Railway operates routes west of London including those towards south west England such as Wiltshire, Bristol, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, as well as Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hereford and South Wales.

The following is a simplified list of regular off-peak weekday service from the June 2024 timetables.[39]

### Intercity

[edit]

London to South Wales

Route | tph | Calling at
London Paddington to Cardiff Central | 1 |

* Reading
* Swindon
* Bristol Parkway
* Newport

London Paddington to Swansea | 1 |

* Reading
* Swindon
* Bristol Parkway
* Newport
* Cardiff Central
* Bridgend
* Port Talbot Parkway
* Neath

* Seven trains per day continue to Carmarthen mainly calling at Llanelli and Pembrey & Burry Port.

London to Bristol and Somerset
Route | tph | Calling at
London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads | 2 |

* Reading
* Didcot Parkway (1tph)
* Swindon
* Chippenham
* Bath Spa

* One train every 2 hours continues towards Weston-super-Mare, calling at Nailsea and Backwell, Yatton and Worle.

London to Devon and Cornwall
Route | tph | Calling at
London Paddington to Exeter St Davids | 1tp2h |

* Reading
* Newbury
* Hungerford
* Pewsey
* Westbury
* Castle Cary
* Taunton
* Tiverton Parkway

* Some trains continue to Paignton or Plymouth, calling at various intermediate stations.

London Paddington to Plymouth | 1tp2h |

* Reading
* Taunton
* Tiverton Parkway
* Exeter St Davids
* Newton Abbot
* Totnes

* Alternates with services between London Paddington and Penzance to provide an hourly service on this route.

London Paddington to Penzance | 1tp2h |

* Reading
* Taunton
* Tiverton Parkway
* Exeter St Davids
* Newton Abbot
* Totnes
* Plymouth
* Liskeard
* Bodmin Parkway
* Par
* St Austell
* Truro
* Redruth
* Camborne
* St Erth

* Alternates with services between London Paddington and Plymouth to provide an hourly service between those stations.

London to Oxford and The Cotswolds
Route | tph | Calling at
London Paddington to Oxford | 1 |

* Reading
* Didcot Parkway (Oxford-bound only)

London Paddington to Great Malvern | 1 |

* Reading
* Didcot Parkway (London-bound only)
* Oxford
* Hanborough
* Charlbury
* Kingham
* Moreton-in-Marsh
* Honeybourne
* Evesham
* Pershore
* Worcestershire Parkway
* Worcester Shrub Hill
* Worcester Foregate Street
* Malvern Link

* Certain trains terminate at Worcester while others continue to Hereford calling at Colwall and Ledbury.

London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa | 1 |

* Reading
* Didcot Parkway
* Swindon
* Kemble
* Stroud
* Stonehouse
* Gloucester[a]

* One train per day continues to Worcester Shrub Hill calling at Ashchurch for Tewkesbury.

### Thames Valley

[edit]

Great Western Mainline

Route | tph | Calling at
London Paddington to Didcot Parkway | 2 |

* Slough
* Maidenhead
* Twyford
* Reading
* Tilehurst
* Pangbourne
* Goring & Streatley
* Cholsey

Reading–Taunton Line
Route  | tph | Calling at
London Paddington to Newbury | 1 |

* Reading
* Theale
* Thatcham

Reading to Newbury | 1 |

* Reading West
* Theale
* Aldermaston
* Midgham
* Thatcham
* Newbury Racecourse

Newbury to Bedwyn | 1 |

* Kintbury
* Hungerford

* One train runs non-stop from Newbury to Bedwyn.

Greenford Branch
Route | tph | Calling at
West Ealing to Greenford | 2 |

* Drayton Green
* Castle Bar Park
* South Greenford

Windsor Branch
Route | tph | Calling at
Slough to Windsor & Eton Central | 3 | Shuttle service
Marlow Branch
Route | tph | Calling at
Maidenhead to Marlow | 1 |

* Furze Platt
* Cookham
* Bourne End[a]

Regatta Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Twyford to Henley-on-Thames | 2 |

* Wargrave
* Shiplake

North Downs Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Reading to Gatwick Airport | 2 |

* Wokingham
* Crowthorne (1tph)
* Sandhurst (1tph)
* Blackwater
* Farnborough North (1tph)
* North Camp
* Ash (1tph)
* Guildford
* Shalford
* Chilworth (1tp2h)
* Gomshall (1tp2h)
* Dorking West (1tp2h)
* Dorking Deepdene
* Betchworth (1tp2h)
* Reigate
* Redhill[a]

* Trains either serve Chilworth and Gomshall, or Dorking West and Betchworth.
* All remaining trains serve Crowthorne, Sandhurst, Farnborough North, and Ash.

Reading–Basingstoke Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Reading to Basingstoke | 2 |

* Reading West
* Reading Green Park
* Mortimer
* Bramley

Oxford Canal Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Didcot Parkway to Oxford | 1tp2h |

* Appleford
* Culham
* Radley

Didcot Parkway to Banbury | 1tp2h |

* Culham
* Radley
* Oxford
* Tackley
* Heyford
* Kings Sutton

### Bristol

[edit]

Wessex Mainline

Route | tph | Calling at
Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour | 1 |

* Newport
* Filton Abbey Wood
* Bristol Temple Meads[a]
* Bath Spa
* Bradford-on-Avon
* Trowbridge
* Westbury
* Warminster
* Salisbury
* Romsey
* Southampton Central
* Fareham
* Cosham
* Fratton
* Portsmouth & Southsea

South Wales to Devon and Cornwall
Route | tph | Calling at
Cardiff Central to Penzance | 1tp2h |

* Newport
* Severn Tunnel Junction
* Patchway
* Filton Abbey Wood
* Bristol Temple Meads
* Nailsea & Backwell
* Yatton
* Worle
* Weston-super-Mare
* Highbridge and Burnham
* Bridgwater
* Taunton
* Tiverton Parkway
* Exeter St Davids
* Dawlish
* Teignmouth
* Newton Abbot
* Totnes
* Ivybridge
* Plymouth
* Saltash
* St Germans
* Liskeard
* Bodmin Parkway
* Lostwithiel
* Par
* St Austell
* Truro
* Redruth
* Camborne
* Hayle
* St Erth

* Alternates with services between Cardiff Central and Taunton and services between Plymouth and Penzance to provide an hourly service between those stations

Bristol and Somerset
Route | tph | Calling at
Cardiff Central to Taunton | 1tp2h |

* Newport
* Severn Tunnel Junction
* Patchway
* Filton Abbey Wood
* Bristol Temple Meads
* Nailsea & Backwell
* Yatton
* Worle
* Weston-super-Mare
* Highbridge and Burnham
* Bridgwater

* Alternates with services between Cardiff Central and Penzance to provide an hourly service on this route

Weston-super-Mare to Severn Beach | 1 |

* Weston Milton
* Worle
* Yatton
* Nailsea and Backwell
* Parson Street
* Bedminster
* Bristol Temple Meads
* Lawrence Hill
* Stapleton Road
* Montpelier
* Redland
* Clifton Down
* Sea Mills
* Shirehampton
* Portway Park & Ride
* Avonmouth
* St Andrews Road

Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth | 1 |

* Lawrence Hill
* Stapleton Road
* Montpelier
* Redland
* Clifton Down
* Sea Mills
* Shirehampton
* Portway Park & Ride

Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood | 1 |

* Lawrence Hill
* Stapleton Road
* Ashley Down

Gloucester and the Heart of Wessex Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Gloucester to Weymouth | 1tp2h |

* Yate
* Bristol Parkway
* Filton Abbey Wood
* Bristol Temple Meads[a]
* Keynsham
* Oldfield Park
* Bath Spa
* Bradford-on-Avon
* Trowbridge
* Westbury
* Frome
* Bruton
* Castle Cary
* Yeovil Pen Mill
* Thornford[b]
* Yetminster[b]
* Chetnole[b]
* Maiden Newton
* Dorchester West
* Upwey

* Alternates with services from Gloucester to Westbury to provide an hourly service between those stations

Gloucester to Westbury | 1tp2h |

* Yate
* Bristol Parkway
* Filton Abbey Wood
* Bristol Temple Meads[a]
* Keynsham
* Oldfield Park
* Bath Spa
* Bradford-on-Avon
* Trowbridge

* Two trains per day continue to Frome
* Alternates with services from Gloucester to Weymouth to provide an hourly service on this route

Worcester Foregate Street to Bristol Temple Meads | 1 |

* Worcester Shrub Hill
* Ashchurch
* Cheltenham Spa
* Gloucester[a]
* Cam & Dursley
* Yate
* Bristol Parkway
* Filton Abbey Wood

Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury | 1 |

* Keynsham
* Oldfield Park
* Bath Spa
* Freshford
* Avoncliff
* Bradford-on-Avon
* Trowbridge
* Westbury
* Warminster

* Some services terminate at Warminster

Trans-Wilts Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Swindon to Westbury | 1tp2h |

* Chippenham
* Melksham
* Trowbridge

### West of England

[edit]

Cornish Mainline

Route | tph | Calling at
Plymouth to Penzance | 1tp2h |

* Saltash
* St Germans
* Liskeard
* Bodmin Parkway
* Lostwithiel
* Par
* St Austell
* Truro
* Redruth
* Camborne
* Hayle
* St Erth

* Alternates with services from Cardiff Central to Penzance to provide an hourly service on this route

Avocet and Riviera Lines
Route | tph | Calling at
Exmouth to Paignton | 2 |

* Lympstone Village
* Lympstone Commando (1tph)[b]
* Exton (1tph)[b]
* Topsham
* Newcourt
* Digby and Sowton
* Polsloe Bridge (1tph)
* St James Park (1tph)
* Exeter Central
* Exeter St Davids[a]
* Exeter St Thomas (1tph)
* Marsh Barton (1tph)
* Starcross (1tph)
* Dawlish Warren (1tph)
* Dawlish
* Teignmouth
* Newton Abbot
* Torre
* Torquay

* Trains either serve Lympstone Commando, Exton, Polsloe Bridge, and St James Park, or Exeter St Thomas, Marsh Barton, Starcross, and Dawlish Warren.

Dartmoor and Tarka Lines
Route | tph | Calling at
Exeter Central to Okehampton | 1 |

* Exeter St Davids
* Newton St Cyres[b] (limited)
* Crediton

Exeter Central to Barnstaple | 1 |

* Exeter St Davids
* Newton St Cyres[b] (limited)
* Crediton
* Yeoford[b]
* Copplestone
* Morchard Road[b]
* Lapford[b] (limited)
* Eggesford
* Kings Nympton[b] (limited)
* Portsmouth Arms[b] (limited)
* Umberleigh[b]
* Chapelton[b] (limited)

* One train per day continues from Exeter Central to Axminster, calling at
* Pinhoe
* Cranbrook
* Feniton
* and Honiton

Tamar Valley Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Plymouth to Gunnislake | 1tp2h |

* Devonport
* Dockyard[b]
* Keyham
* St Budeaux Victoria Road
* Bere Ferrers
* Bere Alston[a]
* Calstock

Looe Valley Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Liskeard to Looe | 1 |

* Coombe Junction Halt (2tpd)[a]
* St Keyne Wishing Well Halt (1tp2h)[b]
* Causeland (1tp2h)[b]
* Sandplace (1tp2h)[b]

* One train every 2 hours runs non-stop between Liskeard and Looe.

Atlantic Coast Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Par to Newquay | 1tp2h |

* Luxulyan[b]
* Bugle[b]
* Roche[b]
* St Columb Road[b]
* Quintrell Downs

Maritime Line
Route | tph | Calling at
Truro to Falmouth Docks | 2 |

* Perranwell (1tph)
* Penryn
* Penmere
* Falmouth Town

St Ives Bay Line
Route | tph | Calling at
St Erth to St Ives | 2 |

* Lelant Saltings (1tpd)
* Lelant (1tp2h)[b]
* Carbis Bay

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trains reverse
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Request stop

## Named trains

[edit]

Further information: List of named passenger trains of the United Kingdom

Great Western Railway's named passenger trains include:[40][41]

Name | Origin | Destination

|
|

The Armada | Plymouth | London Paddington
The Atlantic Coast Express | London Paddington | Newquay
The Bristolian | London Paddington | Bristol Temple Meads
The Capitals United | Swansea | London Paddington
The Cathedrals Express | Hereford | London Paddington
The Cheltenham Spa Express | London Paddington | Cheltenham Spa
The Cornishman | Penzance | London Paddington
The Cornish Riviera | London Paddington | Penzance
Cotswolds and Malvern Express[42] | London Paddington | Hereford
The Devon Express | London Paddington | Paignton
The Flying Carolean[43] | London Paddington | Swansea
The Golden Hind | Penzance | London Paddington
The Mayflower | London Paddington | Plymouth
The Merchant Venturer | London Paddington | Bristol Temple Meads or Weston-super-Mare
The Night Riviera | London Paddington | Penzance
The Pembroke Coast Express[44] | London Paddington | Pembroke Dock
The Red Dragon[44] | London Paddington | Carmarthen
The Royal Duchy | London Paddington | Penzance
The Saint David[44] | London Paddington | Swansea
The Torbay Express | London Paddington | Paignton
Y Cymro – The Welshman[44] | Swansea | London Paddington

## Onboard services

[edit]

### Pullman Dining

[edit]

GWR operates restaurant cars on certain West Country and Wales trains to or from London Paddington. They are available to first-class and standard-class passengers, though only first-class passengers may make advance reservations, and they have priority over seats in the restaurant.[45] Meals in the restaurant car are not included in the price of rail tickets.

### First class

[edit]

First class interior on a GWR Intercity Express Train

GWR has first class on all its long-distance high-speed services. First class on the IETs includes fabric reclining seating with tables at every seat, as well as an at-seat service provided by a customer host on most journeys.[46] Unlike the previous HSTs, the IETs do not have leather first-class seating due to fire regulations.[47] Like the HSTs, there are power sockets and USB charging points at every seat. There is Wi-Fi throughout the first class-carriages, which GWR describes as 'upgraded'.[46]

### Standard class

[edit]

Standard-class interior on a GWR Intercity Express Train

Standard class is provided on all services. Many services on long-distance and regional routes have specific seat reservations.

### Trolley service

[edit]

An at-seat trolley service is scheduled to operate on most IET services, with a trolley in each portion of a ten-coach train. This is different from the HSTs, which had buffet counters branded as 'Express Cafes'.

## Performance

[edit]

### Disabled passengers

[edit]

In July 2018, a disabled woman was threatened by Great Western Railway staff with police action and removal from the train she was travelling in, for using a disabled space for her mobility scooter.[48] Canadian-born comedian Tanyalee Davis, who has a form of dwarfism, said she was humiliated when a Great Western Railway conductor made an announcement that she was "causing problems" which had delayed the train. The incident occurred after a woman travelling with a young child demanded that Davis make way for her pram.[49] GWR said the incident should not have happened and "No one travelling with us should be left feeling like this".[50]

### Strike action

[edit]

In 2015, the imminent arrival of the new Class 800 trains provoked a series of strikes by the RMT union over who has the right to control the doors. First Great Western wanted to replace conductors with driver-only operation (DOO); however, following several discussions it was agreed to keep conductors on all IET services.[51] Another strike took place in early December 2016 amidst a background of ongoing rail strikes on a national level. The RMT ballotted Servest UK workers employed on an outsourcing contract to GWR as cleaners; the ballot passed in favour of strike action by 98%. A disruptive transfer period in the outsourcing contract, from Mitie to Servest UK, had resulted in what the RMT referred to as the creation of a "two-tier workforce" amongst cleaners at GWR, with an inequality in pay and working conditions between cleaners employed directly by GWR and those outsourced to Servest UK.[52] Two 24-hour strikes were held from 06:00 on 16 and 23 December,[53] followed by a 48-hour strike from 06:00 on 19 January 2017.[54] Further industrial action was suspended by the RMT following the January strike as a result of an improvement in ongoing negotiations between the RMT, GWR and Servest UK.[55] The dispute was formally resolved in July 2017, as RMT members voted in favour of accepting a new pay deal.[56]

### IET issues

[edit]

A Class 800 bogie. The white casting at the top is attached to the body and has the triangular yaw damper bracket on the left and the lifting pad is at the top of the square fixture to the right.

In April 2021, cracks were discovered in the yaw damper brackets (part of the suspension system) of Class 800 and 802 InterCity Express Trains (IET). Eight trains were withdrawn from service and an investigation started into the cause.[57] On 8 May, all these trains and similar ones operated by other companies were taken out of service. Cracks had now been found in the lifting pads (a component fixed near the bogie) and it was feared that if these were to fall off they may cause injury or derailment.[58][59]

The only IET units that were permitted to operate were those which had been carefully inspected and found to have no significant cracks. This meant that most of GWR's 93 units were unavailable which led to significant disruption to long-distance services. Class 387 units operated additional services from London Paddington to Didcot Parkway which were later extended to Swindon and Bristol Parkway after approval was given for them to operate in service on this route. Three additional 387 units were loaned from c2c and were modified to work with GWR's fleet, mostly on services to Newbury. CrossCountry operated a service on behalf of GWR from Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads and the few available 800 and 802, were concentrated on services west of Swindon and to Plymouth.[60] Plans were agreed on 13 May to increase inspections of the lifting pads and yaw dampers so that more trains could be returned to service.[61][62] A further six Class 387 units were loaned from Govia Thameslink Railway in July 2021 and used in a common pool with GWR's existing 387/1 fleet, being surplus to requirements while the Gatwick Express service was suspended.[63]

## Rolling stock

[edit]

Great Western Railway inherited a fleet of InterCity 125 sets (Class 43 power cars and Mark 3 Coaches) and Class 57 locomotives and Mark 3 sleeper coaches from BR. In 2006, it inherited a fleet of Class 165 and Class 166 units from First Great Western Link, and a fleet of Class 150, Class 153 and Class 158 units from Wessex Trains.

### Inter-City services

[edit]

#### Class 800 Intercity Express Train

[edit]

Class 800 at Oxford

The fleet of 57 Class 800 trains from the Hitachi A-train family is used to operate most of GWR's long-distance services between London and destinations such as Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Newport, Cardiff Central, Swansea, Carmarthen, Cheltenham Spa, Oxford, Worcester Shrub Hill and Hereford. Introduced between autumn 2017 and spring 2019, these gradually replaced the older InterCity 125 sets.

On 28 April 2021, six Class 800s were withdrawn from service due to cracks being found during maintenance and were sent to Hitachi for inspection.[64]

#### Class 802 Intercity Express Train

[edit]

Class 802 at Tiverton Parkway

Long-distance services between London and destinations in the west of the GWR network (such as Paignton, Newquay, Plymouth and Penzance) are mostly operated using the fleet of 36 Class 802 trains, the first of which was introduced on 20 August 2018.[65]

These trains are almost identical to the Class 800 trains, except they have a higher engine operating power—700 kW (940 hp) per engine as opposed to 560 kW (750 hp)—and are fitted with larger fuel tanks to cope with the gradients and extended running in diesel mode on the long unelectrified stretches in Devon and Cornwall.[66]

Hitachi planned to test a tri-mode Class 802 in 2022 fitted with batteries in an attempt to reduce emissions when entering and leaving stations.[67]

### Sleeper services

[edit]

#### Class 57 + Mark 3

[edit]

Class 57 locomotive at St Philip's Marsh depot

Four Class 57/6 locomotives have hauled the Night Riviera sleeper services since 2004 when they replaced Class 47s.[68] Due to poor availability of the 57/6s, Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 57/3s have been hired from Direct Rail Services.[69] in 2023, former DRS 57312 was placed on permanent lease with GWR.[70]

### Thames Valley and Bristol services

[edit]

#### Class 165/1 Networker Turbo

[edit]

Class 165 on Basingstoke service

The Class 165 "Networker Turbo" is a two- or three-coach DMU originally used on shorter-distance services in the Thames Valley area, with many still based at Reading Traction Maintenance Depot. In this area, they are mainly used on branches such as the Greenford branch line, Slough–Windsor & Eton line, Marlow branch line and Henley branch line. They are also used on services between Reading and Basingstoke, Didcot Parkway and Oxford or Banbury, and sometimes services between London and Oxford. Many are based at St Philip's Marsh depot in Bristol, where they work on most of the lines in the area including the Severn Beach line, Heart of Wessex Line, Golden Valley line and Bristol to Exeter line. From summer 2018, they began operating services between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour too, in tandem with the Class 166 fleet. In response to its Remedial Plan Notice, First Great Western undertook a more thorough refurbishment of the Thames Turbo fleet than originally planned:[71] the trains were to be fitted with improved lighting, carpets, toilets, and a revised seating layout.[72] This refurbishment started in September 2016.

#### Class 166 Networker Turbo

[edit]

Class 166 at Bristol Temple Meads

The Class 166 "Networker Turbo" is a three-coach DMU, similar to the Class 165 units but with an internal layout more suitable for longer-distance services. They are now mostly based at St Philip's Marsh depot in Bristol, where they currently work on most of the lines in the area including the Wessex Main Line, Severn Beach line, Heart of Wessex Line, Golden Valley line and Bristol to Taunton line.

#### Class 387/1 Electrostar

[edit]

Class 387 at Reading

The Class 387 "Electrostar" is a four-coach EMU built by Bombardier, with a 2+2 seating layout, tables, power sockets and free Wi-Fi. It can be operated in four, eight- and twelve-coach formations. The class began to enter service in September 2016 on weekday peak services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington, using the overhead electrical equipment used by Heathrow Express. Services using the class were extended to Maidenhead in May 2017[73] and later to Didcot Parkway,[74] and from Reading to Newbury.

Bombardier Transportation at Ilford Depot had modified twelve of these trains by December 2020, installing new first-class seating, Wi-Fi, luggage racks and on-board entertainment, to be used on Heathrow Express services. Rebranded as "Heathrow Express", and refurbished with Heathrow Express moquette, they replaced the existing Class 332,[75] entering service on 29 December 2020.

In 2023 3 units were cascaded to Great Northern.[76]

### West of England services

[edit]

#### Class 43 + Mark 3 HST / Class 255 Castle

[edit]

Class 255 Castle set hauled by HST Class 43 powercars at Stapleton Road

Great Western Railway retained 24 power cars and 48 carriages from its former High Speed Train fleet to form 12 'Castle' 2+4 sets. They are branded as Class 255 sets and are for use on multiple services between Plymouth and Penzance.[77] There is a consensus that the sets shall be withdrawn at the end of 2024, ending their services with GWR in Devon and Cornwall and replaced with Class 175s.[78] All power cars being retained will have new nameplates, named after castles from across the area that GWR serve. The sets are progressively being fitted with automatic doors and controlled emission toilets, to allow their operation beyond 2020, at Doncaster Works.[66] Due to a delay in refurbishing the Castle sets, slam door 2+4 sets known as 'Classic' sets were used until the end of 2019.

Until 2017, GWR operated the vast majority of its long-distance services with a fleet of 58 InterCity 125 High Speed Train sets,[79] each consisting of eight Mark 3 coaches sandwiched between two Class 43 locomotives. GWR operated the largest InterCity 125 fleet, owning five sets outright; the rest were leased from Angel Trains and Porterbrook. From 2009 to 2012 (when Class 180s were reintroduced on the Cotswold line)[80] all the company's intercity services were worked by HSTs except the Night Riviera sleeper service between London Paddington and Penzance. From late 2017, following the completion of electrification from Hayes & Harlington to the west of England,[81] intercity services gradually became operated by Class 800 IETs, although a few peak services remained operated by HSTs until early 2019. GWR continued to use HSTs on services to Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance until May 2019, when they were all withdrawn in favour of Class 802 units.[82]

The youngest Class 43 locomotive dated from 1982. After a successful trial by Angel Trains and FGW in 2004, two power cars received new MTU engines while two received new Paxman VP185s, fitted by Brush Traction of Loughborough. The MTU engine proved the better option, both for reliability and for emissions, resulting in FGW, Brush and Angel Trains starting the HST Modernisation programme. The last power cars to be re-engineered were released in April 2008, while several other companies' HSTs have now all undergone a similar programme.[83]

GWR's High Speed Train fleet were refurbished by Bombardier in Derby and Ilford between 2006 and 2008,[84] with leather seats introduced in first class, redesigned toilets, a redesigned buffet, and at-seat power points. The company opted for mainly airline seats, giving more seats per train.

Following the Southall and Ladbroke Grove rail crashes, GWR requires its HSTs to have automatic train protection and Automatic Warning System safety systems in operation. If either is faulty, the train is not used.

#### Class 150/2 Sprinter

[edit]

Class 150/2 skirting the Exe estuary

The fleet of 17 two-coach Class 150 Sprinter units was inherited from Wessex Trains as part of the Greater Western franchise shuffle. The fleet had been refurbished by Wessex Trains in 2003, with 2+2 seating arranged in a mixture of 'airline' (face to back) and table seating. The fleet is widespread throughout the former Wessex area, and carried a maroon livery with advertising vinyls for South West Tourism. Each unit was sponsored by a district, town or attraction and carried a unique livery. Most received names of attractions, places and branch lines. Two units were repainted into the new First 'Local' livery, but all units are now due to receive the new green GWR livery. As part of a national fleet shuffle, eight units went to Arriva Trains Wales on 10 December 2006, and were replaced with 8 Class 158 units.

First Great Western received five extra Class 150/2 units in May 2007 as part of its Remedial Plan Notice, to enable three-car Class 158 trains to operate on the Portsmouth-Cardiff services.[71] Five Class 150 sets were hired from Arriva Trains Wales from March 2008 until they were returned in November 2010.

#### Class 158 Express Sprinter

[edit]

Class 158 at Bristol Temple Meads

The Class 158 is a two- or three-coach DMU used on regional express services in the former Wessex Trains area. In February 2008, as part of its Remedial Plan Notice, First Great Western announced that it would form some hybrid three-car Class 158 units in March 2008, made possible by the transfer of five Class 150/2 units from Arriva Trains Wales.[71] This allowed for ten hybrid units in operation and, combined with one non-hybrid three-car unit, provided eleven three-car units to operate services between Portsmouth and Cardiff and Great Malvern and Weymouth alongside the two-car units. After the introduction of Class 150/1 trains from London Overground and London Midland, three of the remaining five two-coach Class 158s were reformed to provide two further three-coach Class 158s.[85] However, following their operations largely being taken over by Class 165 and Class 166 units in the Bristol area, most of these units were reformed to restore them to 2 coach formation.[citation needed]

The fleet was refurbished in a programme begun in 2007,[86] which included fitting of reupholstered seats, new lighting and floor coverings, CCTV within the passenger saloons, and refurbished toilets. At the same time, the exteriors of the vehicles were repainted in the updated FGW livery, including artwork depicting various local places of interest. The refurbishment work took place at the Wabtec plant in Doncaster.[87]

In 2018, the 158s began running alongside the first completed Class 255 Castle set on services between Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance. Since then, more of the 158 fleet have gradually started to move more west with more 158 sets working services between Exmouth and Paignton / Barnstaple. The timetable change in December 2019 saw the start of the 158s taking over from the 143s primarily on the Tarka Line to Barnstaple, with some of the units also working on the Cardiff / Bristol to Penzance route alongside the Castle sets.[88]

In October 2020, Arriva TrainCare completed a refurbishment of the Class 158 fleet in line with the C6 exam at their Bristol Barton Hill depot. This included: full interior and exterior repaint, and rebrand to new GWR corporate colours, installation of new air conditioning system and heaters and overhauling the seating and flooring. In addition, a new passenger information system was installed as well as new toilet systems.[89]

### Current fleet

[edit]

Family  | Class  | Image  | Type  | Top speed  | Qty.  | Carriages  | Routes[39] | Year Built

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

mph  | km/h
Commuter, regional and branch line
Sprinter | 150/2 |  | DMU | 75  | 120  | 20[90] | 2  |

* Exmouth – Paignton
* Exeter Central – Okehampton
* Exeter Central – Barnstaple
* Plymouth – Gunnislake
* Liskeard – Looe
* Par – Newquay
* Truro – Falmouth Docks
* St Erth – St Ives

| 1986–1987

158 Express Sprinter |  | 90  | 145  | 13[91] | 2  |

* Cardiff Central – Portsmouth Harbour
* Cardiff Central – Penzance
* Axminster - Barnstaple
* Bristol Temple Meads – Weymouth

| 1989–1992
5[92] | 3

Networker | 165 Networker Turbo |  | 20[90] | 2  |

* Reading – Redhill or Gatwick Airport
* Reading – Basingstoke
* Reading or Didcot Parkway – Oxford or Banbury
* Twyford – Henley-on-Thames
* Maidenhead – Marlow
* Slough – Windsor & Eton Central
* West Ealing – Greenford
* Bristol Temple Meads – Avonmouth or Severn Beach
* Great Malvern – Bristol Temple Meads – Salisbury or Weymouth
* Swindon – Gloucester or Weymouth
* Cardiff Central – Portsmouth Harbour[93]
* Exmouth - Paignton
* Newbury - Bedwyn

| 1992
16[90] | 3

166 Networker Turbo |  | 21[94] | 3  |

* Bristol Temple Meads – Avonmouth or Severn Beach[95]
* Bristol Parkway – Weston-super-Mare[96]
* Cardiff Central – Taunton
* Swindon – Westbury
* Great Malvern – Bristol Temple Meads – Southampton Central or Weymouth
* Cardiff Central – Portsmouth Harbour[93]
* Barnstaple – Exeter Central
* Exmouth - Paignton

| 1992–1993

Bombardier Electrostar | 387 |  | EMU | 110  | 177  | 30[76] | 4[97] | London Paddington or Reading – Didcot Parkway, Newbury, Bristol Parkway or Swindon
London Paddington – Cardiff Central  | 2016–2017

Class 255 Castle[98] | 43 HST |  | Diesel locomotive | 125  | 201  | 11[90] | 4  | Exeter St Davids – Plymouth – Penzance[99] | 1975–1982
Mark 3 |  | Passenger coach | 22[90]

| Inter-City  |
Hitachi AT300 | 800 IET |  | BMU | 125  | 201[100] | 36[90] | 5[101][102] | London Paddington

* – Oxford, Bedwyn, Worcester Shrub Hill, Great Malvern, Hereford
* – Cardiff Central, Swansea, Carmarthen
* – Bristol Temple Meads, Weston-super-Mare, Cheltenham Spa
* – Exeter St Davids, Paignton, Plymouth, Penzance

[102]

| 2014–2018
21[90] | 9

802 IET |  | 22[90] | 5  | London Paddington

* – Exeter St Davids, Paignton, Plymouth, Penzance
* – Oxford, Bedwyn, Worcester Shrub Hill, Great Malvern, Hereford

[103][104] | 2017–2018
14[90] | 9

Sleeper  |
Night Riviera | 57 |  | Diesel locomotive | 95  | 152  | 5[90] | Varies[a] |

* 2 Night Riviera sets for London Paddington – Penzance sleeper service

| 1964–1967 (Rebuild: 1998–2004)
Mark 3 |  | Passenger coach | 110  | 177  | 20[90] | 1975–1988
Shunting locomotives  |
[105] | 08 |  | Shunting locomotive  | 15  | 24  | 8  | n/a  | Stock movements in depots  | 1952–1962

1. ^ Locomotive-hauled Mark 3 coaches are generally formed of 7–9 coaches for the Night Riviera. They are hauled by a single Class 57.

### Past fleet

[edit]

Family  | Class  | Image  | Type  | Top speed  | Total  | Withdrawn  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

mph  | km/h
Commuter, regional and branch line
Pacer | 142 |  | DMU | 75  | 120  | 12  | 2011  | Replaced by Class 165 Networker Turbo and Class 166 Networker Turbo
143 |  | 8  | 2020
Sprinter | 150/0 |  | 2  |

* Replaced by Class 165 Networker Turbo and Class 166 Networker Turbo
* Transferred to Arriva Rail North and Northern Trains

150/1 |  | 17  | 2018
153 Super Sprinter |  | 14  | 2018–2019  |

* Replaced by Class 165 Networker Turbo and Class 166 Networker Turbo
* Transferred to Abellio ScotRail and KeolisAmey Wales

Bombardier Electrostar | 387/1 |  | EMU | 110  | 177  | 15  | 2019–2020, 2023  |

* 12 units transferred to Heathrow Express between 2019–2020
* 3 units transferred to Great Northern in 2023[76]

387/2 |  | 6  | 2021–22  |

* These trains were subleased from Great Northern in 2021, to provide cover for Class 800 and Class 802 InterCity Express Train (IET) units, following cracks being found on the IETs
* After the issues surrounding the IET trains were resolved, these units were returned to Great Northern at the end of 2021

387/3 |  | 3  |

* These trains were transferred from c2c to provide cover for Class 800 and Class 802 InterCity Express Train (IET) units, following cracks being found on the IETs
* In June 2022 the units were withdrawn and transferred to Great Northern in July 2022[106]

Inter-City
InterCity 125 | 43 (HST) |  | Diesel locomotive | 125  | 200  | 91  | 2019  |

* Replaced by Class 800 IET and Class 802 IET
* Transfer of some power cars and coaches to Abellio ScotRail

Mark 3 |  | Passenger coach | 408
Alstom Coradia | 180 Adelante |  | DMU | 125  | 200  | 14  | 2017  |

* Replaced by Class 800 IET and Class 802 IET
* Transferred to Grand Central

A former FGW motorail carriage, seen at Penzance

Locomotive-hauled trains were in use on services between Cardiff, Bristol, Taunton and Paignton from December 2008 until November 2010 using Virgin Trains Class 57 locomotives with Mark 2 coaching stock. A second set hauled by EWS Class 67s was used between December 2009 and October 2010. These were withdrawn when sufficient DMUs were available following the transfer of six Class 150/1 sets from London Overground.[107] First Great Western issued a tender in May 2013 so that locomotive-hauled trains, or other train formations, could be operated on the Taunton-Cardiff route again, proposed to start in December 2013, to cover for DMUs out of service for refurbishment on Monday-to-Friday diagrams.[108] GWR also runs loco-hauled sets composed of seating coaches and a Class 57 locomotive from the Night Riviera service between Penzance and Exeter St Davids as part of the summer timetable to release a DMU for other services.

Twelve Class 142 Pacer DMUs were received by First Great Western in 2007, starting operations that December. These were sub-leased from Northern Rail (where they had been stored), in part to cover for refurbishment of FGW's Sprinter fleets but also to allow the Class 158s to be re-formed as three-coach sets. They were based at Exeter TMD, working alongside the similar Class 143s on services in Devon and Cornwall, including the Avocet Line, Riviera Line and Tarka Line. Five 142s were returned to Northern Rail in late 2008, following the completion of the refresh of Class 150 Sprinter units. The remaining seven units were returned to Northern Rail by November 2011 as they had been replaced by Class 150 units cascaded from London Overground and London Midland following the arrival of new Class 172 Turbostar units.

GWR's Night Riviera service also included the UK's last Motorail service, until that aspect was withdrawn at the end of the 2005 summer season due to low usage.

First Great Western previously leased 14 Class 180 Adelante units, operating on the Great Western Main Line, but following technical issues they were transferred elsewhere.[109][110] In 2012, five units were returned to First Great Western to operate weekday services on the Cotswold Line, allowing class 165 and 166 units to be reallocated to increase capacity on Thames Valley services.[80] The Class 180s left GWR in stages between June and December 2017 to join Grand Central.[111][112]

The 150/1s in the GWR fleet transferred to Arriva Rail North in stages, beginning with the first three in August 2017 when their leases expired,[113] and ending in April 2018.[114] The 153s also transferred elsewhere in stages too, with the first four units going to East Midlands Trains and the next five units going to Arriva Rail North. This left just five 153 units with GWR, which eventually transferred to Transport for Wales in April 2019.[115]

### Future fleet

[edit]

In February 2023, GWR purchased a number of assets from the administrators of battery train manufacturer Vivarail, including 67 former London Underground D78 Stock carriages and intellectual property rights to the Class 230.[116][117] GWR have also employed nine Vivarail staff. It intends to trial the Class 230 units on the Greenford branch line between West Ealing and Greenford.

In August 2024, Rail Express reported that GWR were planning to lease the Class 175 fleet.[118] In November 2024, it was announced that GWR had signed a lease for the Class 175 fleet; the fleet is planned to enter service in 2025.[119] On 27 November 2024, 175002 was the first Class 175 unit to transfer to GWR.[120]

Family  | Class  | Image  | Type  | Top speed  | Quantity of units  | Carriages per unit  | Routes  | Year built

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

mph  | km/h
Alstom Coradia | 175/0 |  | DMU | 100  | 160  | 10  | 2  |

* Penzance – Exeter St Davids
* Exeter Central – Barnstaple
* Exeter Central – Okehampton

[121] | 1999–2001
175/1 |  | 16  | 3
Vivarail D-Train | 230 |  |

* BEMU
* DEMU

| 60  | 97  | 1  | 3  | West Ealing – Greenford  |

* 1978–1981 (LU)
* 2015–2019 (Vivarail)

3  | 2

### Rejected fleet

[edit]

Class 769 on a trial run at Guildford

It was planned for Great Western Railway to operate nineteen Class 769/9 units once they were fully rolled out. The operator intended to run the first services in spring 2019,[122] but this was delayed by issues faced by Porterbrook in converting the units. However, the first vehicle has been delivered and all were expected to be delivered by the end of 2021.

Although initially planned for use in London and the Thames Valley, while 12 Class 387 units were modified for Heathrow Express services, the future plan for these units was to be operating on services between Oxford, Reading and Gatwick Airport, which would have meant operating on non-electrified lines, 25 kV AC OHLE and 750 V DC third-rail routes. To enable this, GWR's allocation of Class 769 units retained their dual-voltage capability in addition to being fitted with diesel power units. The units also received an internal refurbishment and be fitted with air cooling.[123]

The first Class 769 to be delivered to GWR was unit 769943, which arrived at Reading TMD in August 2020. It was expected to enter service in early 2021.[124] The Class 769 was expected to enter squadron service with GWR between June and December 2021,[125] but this was later delayed to 2022.

In December 2022, GWR announced that the introduction of the Class 769 fleet would be abandoned and the units handed back to Porterbrook in April 2023. This was to comply with DfT mandated cost-cutting and also as a result of dissatisfaction with the reliability of the units on test.[126]

## Livery

[edit]

HST in modified Great Western Trains livery with First Group logo and fader vinyls at Reading

A First Great Western Class 150 in the 'Local Lines' livery, worn by former Wessex Trains services

Great Western Trains adopted a livery of dark-green upper body and ivory lower body, with a stylised 'Merlin' bird logo.[127] Following the rebranding as First Great Western, fader vinyls were added to the lower body, with a gold bar containing the stylised FirstGroup F logo and separate Great Western logotype.[128] This livery was sometimes known as the 'fag packet' livery.[129]

When the Class 180 Adelante units were delivered, they were painted in the intercity version of FirstGroup's corporate bus livery. This consisted of a purple-blue base, with pink and gold bars and large pink Fs on the carriage sides and white highlights along the roof and around the driver's cab. The doors were painted white to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The HST fleet was repainted to match as they went through overhaul; however, the livery on the power cars was progressively altered to a plain blue base with pink and gold stripes, following problems with dirt build-up on the large white areas.[127]

The new Greater Western franchise involved repainting the HST fleet into FirstGroup's 'Dynamic Lines' livery for intercity and commuter services in the former First Great Western and First Great Western Link areas. The livery was initially applied to the HST fleet as they went through refurbishment, although the Class 180 units did not receive the new livery due to the termination of their lease. The commuter units also received the new livery while receiving standard maintenance, as a refurbishment was not originally planned.[130] The rebranding of the company as Great Western Railway introduced a new GWR logo and a dark green livery with white stripes and grey doors in September 2015.[131]

## Depots

[edit]

Great Western Railway trains are based at eight depots. Other depots at Landore (Swansea) and Old Oak Common (London) closed in 2018.

Depot | Nearest station | Allocation | Picture | Notes

|
|
|
|

North Pole | London Paddington |

* 800
* 802

|  | Operated by Agility Trains
Reading | Reading |

* 165
* 166
* 230
* 387
* Mark 3 Coach
* 57

|  | Rebuilt to the North of its original location for the new flyover.[132][133]
Stoke Gifford | Bristol Parkway | 800, 802 |  | Operated by Agility Trains
St Phillip's Marsh | Bristol Temple Meads |

* 08
* 43
* 150
* 158
* 165
* 166

|  |
Exeter TMD | Exeter St Davids |

* 150
* 158

|  |
Laira | Plymouth |

* 08
* 43
* 150
* 802

|  |
Long Rock | Penzance |

* 08
* 43
* 150
* 57
* Mark 3 Coach

|  |
Swansea Maliphant | Swansea | 800 |  | Operated by Agility Trains

### Past depots

[edit]

Depot | Nearest station | Allocation | Picture | Notes

|
|
|
|

Old Oak Common Depot | London Paddington |

* 08
* 43
* 57

|  | Closed 8 December 2018[134]
Landore TMD | Swansea |

* 08
* 43

|  | Closed for GWR in 2018

## TV documentary

[edit]

Channel 5 broadcast two television series looking into day-to-day challenges of the Great Western mainline, including events at Dawlish (as well as the sea wall destruction), Cheltenham race day and rugby at Cardiff. It was broadcast as The Railway: First Great Western and the last series aired in 2015. A similar series based on London Paddington started in September 2017 and covered events such as the reaction to the Manchester Arena and London Bridge attacks, and several days of severe disruption.[citation needed]

## Future of the franchise

[edit]

The franchise was due to end on 31 March 2020. In November 2017, the DfT announced its intention to negotiate a further extension for the franchise until April 2022 with an option to extend for a further two years.[135][136] A new contract was agreed on 30 March 2020, running for three years, extendable to four.[137]

## See also

[edit]

* Great Western Railway, a railway company that existed from 1833 to 1948
* Western Region of British Railways The nationalised division of British Rail from 1948 to 1992

## References

[edit]

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62. ^ Abbott, James (July 2021). "Great Western prepares for the rebound". Modern Railways. pp. 52–58.
63. ^ "GTR to GWR". The Railway Magazine. No. 1445\. August 2021. p. 94.
64. ^ "High-speed GWR trains withdrawn over crack fears". BBC News. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
65. ^ "New Intercity Express Train carries passengers for the first time" (Press release). Great Western Railway. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
66. ^ a b "GWR to retain 11 HSTs for local services". Today's Railways UK. No. 181\. January 2017. p. 67.
67. ^ "Hitachi targets next year for testing of tri-mode IET". Rail Magazine. Peterborough. 6 January 2021.
68. ^ "First FGW Class 57s named". Rail. No. 498\. 13 October 2004. p. 65.
69. ^ "Great Western Railway to replace 57/6s on sleepers....but not yet". Rail Magazine. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
70. ^ "DRS reshuffles ahead of Class 37 and 57 departures". Rail Express. No. 326\. July 2013. p. 16.
71. ^ a b c "Chief Operating Officer Statement". First Great Western. 26 February 2008. Archived from the original on 1 March 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
72. ^ "London & Thames Valley Refresh". First Great Western. 2008. Archived from the original on 14 November 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
73. ^ "Great Western electrification: London and Maidenhead link completed". BBC News. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
74. ^ "New Electrostar Commuter Trains". Great Western Railway. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
75. ^ "GWR to manage Heathrow Express service". Railway Gazette. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
76. ^ a b c "Three ex-GWR 387s to GN". Today's Railways UK. No. 256\. June 2023. p. 60.
77. ^ Hub, The Railway (3 September 2019). "GWR gives 'Castle' names to its HST power cars... and revives Class 255 designation". The Railway Hub. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
78. ^ "Ex-Transport for Wales Class 175s heading to Great Western Railway?". RAIL. No. 1017\. 4 September 2024. p. 18.
79. ^ Davy-Osborne, Stephen (4 October 2016). "GWR celebrates 40 years of HST". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
80. ^ a b "Adelantes return to Great Western". Railnews. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
81. ^ "Modernising the Great Western route". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
82. ^ "Great Western Railway calls time on long-distance HSTs". Rail. Peterborough. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
83. ^ "MTU / HST Power Car Re-engineering Program". wnxx. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
84. ^ "Bombardier awarded £138 million". The Engineer. 7 June 2006. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
85. ^ "Class 158 Reformations, Customer Panel Meeting Minutes". First Great Western. 19 May 2010. Archived from the original on 17 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
86. ^ "West Fleet Refurbishment". First Great Western. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
87. ^ "Preview of the first refurbished Class 158". TheRailwayCentre.com. 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
88. ^ Gussin, Tony (16 December 2019). "New trains start work on the Barnstaple to Exeter Tarka Line". North Devon Gazette. Barnstaple. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
89. ^ "Class 158 Refurbishment – Arriva TrainCare". Arriva TrainCare. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
90. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "What Alternative Awaits GWR". Rolling Stock. Rail Express. No. 337\. June 2024. p. 77.
91. ^ "How GWR operates its varied fleet". Today's Railways UK. No. 259\. September 2023. pp. 24–31.
92. ^ "Formations". The Railway Magazine. No. 1467\. June 2023. p. 93.
93. ^ a b "Modern trains and new technology for Bristol rail passengers". Global Railway Review. 11 July 2017.
94. ^ Ford, Roger (July 2024). "New train procurements generates cost challenges". Informed sources. Modern Railways. Vol. 81, no. 910\. pp. 36–42.
95. ^ Ashcroft, Esme (3 July 2017). "New 'turbo train' fleet arrives in Bristol". Bristol Post. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
96. ^ "Bristol Temple Meads update" (PDF). Network Rail. September 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
97. ^ Clinnick, Richard (30 August 2016). "GWR shows off the first of its new Class 387 EMUs". Rail. Peterborough. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
98. ^ "GWR gives 'Castle' names to its HST power cars... and revives Class 255 designation". The Railway Hub. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
99. ^ Marsden, Colin J (2020). "HSTs - The New Era". Modern Locomotives Illustrated. No. 246\. Stamford, Lincs: Key Publishing. pp. 62–68.
100. ^ "Speed limiters for Hitachi fleets". Traction & Stock. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 168, no. 1457\. August 2022. p. 92.
101. ^ "First Class 800 'Super Express Train' arrives in the UK". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 161, no. 1369\. Horncastle, Lincs. 1 April 2015. pp. 6–7\. ISSN 0033-8923.
102. ^ a b "GWR runs first bi-mode IEP Class 800 to Paddington". Rail. Peterborough. 29 June 2016.
103. ^ "New fleet of trains to bring better journeys to the south west" (Press release). Department for Transport. 30 July 2015.
104. ^ "AT300 for the West of England". Hitachi Rail Europe. 2015. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
105. ^ Marsden, Colin J, ed. (2019). Rolling Stock Review. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 62–68\. ISBN 978-1-912205-98-1.
106. ^ "More '387s' for GTR". Modern Railways. No. August 2022. p. 101.
107. ^ "Taunton Trains Loco-Hauled Info". Taunton Trains. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
108. ^ "FGW offers £7 million loco-hauled contract". The Railway Magazine. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
109. ^ "Adelantes return to Great Western". Railnews. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
110. ^ "Wales loses new trains - again". Wales Online. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
111. ^ "Grand Central 180 Fleet Update". North East Coastliners. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
112. ^ "Grand Central to replace HSTs with cascaded Class 180s". Rail. No. 842\. 20 December 2017. p. 29.
113. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
114. ^ "GWR Class 150/1's transfer to Northern Trains". Taunton Trains. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018. "Great Western Railway Class 150/1s (which were originally inherited from Central Trains and Silverlink Trains) are now in the process of being transferred to Northern Trains."
115. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (14 June 2019). "The very old trains coming back to the Valleys Lines". walesonline. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
116. ^ Preston, Robert (17 February 2023). "Great Western Railway purchases Vivarail assets". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
117. ^ "GWR takes ownership of former Vivarail D78 stock". The Railway Magazine. No. 1467\. June 2023. p. 90.
118. ^ Clinnick, Richard (September 2024). "Class 175s set for Great Western Railway". Headline News. Rail Express. No. 340\. p. 14.
119. ^ "Great Western Railway's acquisition of '175s' confirmed with 2025 introduction planned". News. Rail Magazine. 4 November 2024.
120. ^ Russell, David (January 2025). "GWR takes delivery of its first Class 175". Units. Rail Express. No. 344\. p. 24.
121. ^ "GWR finally confirms 175 deal". Modern Railways. Vol. 82, no. 919\. April 2025. p. 11.
122. ^ Pritchard, Robert (January 2019). "Porterbrook "FLEX" Class 769 launched". Today's Railways UK. No. 205\. Sheffield. pp. 24–25.
123. ^ "GWR to lease Class 769 Flex 'trimode' trainsets". Railway Gazette International. London. 20 April 2018. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
124. ^ "Great Western Railway receives the UK's first tri-mode train" (Press release). Great Western Railway. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
125. ^ "GWR aims for 2021 'Flex' introduction". Rail Express. May 2021. p. 26.
126. ^ "GWR fleet to shrink further as it abandons Class 769 introduction". Railway Gazette International. London. 23 December 2022.
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## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Great Western Railway (First Group).

* Official website

Preceded by

InterCity
As part of British Rail

|  Operator of Great Western franchise
1996–2006  | Succeeded by

First Great Western
Greater Western franchise

|
|

Preceded by

First Great Western
Great Western franchise

|  Operator of Greater Western franchise
2006–2028  | Incumbent
Preceded by

First Great Western Link
Thames franchise

Preceded by

Wessex Trains
Wessex franchise

* v
* t
* e

Train operating companies in the United Kingdom

* Rail transport in Great Britain
* Rail transport in Northern Ireland
* Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain

Current

| National|

* Arriva Rail London
* Avanti West Coast
* c2c1
* Caledonian Sleeper4
* Chiltern Railways
* CrossCountry
* East Midlands Railway
* Govia Thameslink Railway
* Grand Central2
* Greater Anglia
* Great Western Railway
* GTS Rail Operations
* Heathrow Express2
* Hull Trains2
* London North Eastern Railway1
* Lumo2
* Merseyrail
* NI Railways3
* Northern1
* ScotRail4
* Southeastern1
* South Western Railway1
* TransPennine Express1
* Transport for Wales5
* West Midlands Trains

|

International|

* Enterprise3
* Eurostar

Sub-brands|

* Gatwick Express
* Great Northern
* Island Line1
* London Northwestern Railway
* Night Riviera
* Southern
* Stansted Express
* Thameslink
* West Midlands Railway

Operators not subject to franchising or concession:

* 1 Owned by the UK Government
* 2 Open-access operator
* 3 Operates on the Irish railway network and state-owned
* 4 Owned by the Scottish Government
* 5 Owned by the Welsh Government

Defunct (since 1994)

* Abellio ScotRail
* Anglia Railways
* Arriva Rail North
* Arriva Trains Merseyside
* Arriva Trains Northern
* Arriva Trains Wales
* c2c
* Central Trains
* Connex South Central
* Connex South Eastern
* East Coast5
* East Midlands Trains
* First Capital Connect
* First Great Eastern
* First Great Western Link
* First North Western
* First ScotRail
* First TransPennine Express
* Gatwick Express1
* Great North Eastern Railway
* Heathrow Connect
* Island Line2
* KeolisAmey Wales
* London Midland
* London Overground Rail Operations
* Midland Mainline
* MTR Crossrail
* National Express East Anglia
* National Express East Coast
* Northern Rail
* ScotRail (National Express)
* Silverlink
* South Eastern Trains5
* Southeastern
* South Western Railway
* South West Trains
* TfL Rail
* Thameslink3
* Thames Trains
* TransPennine Express
* Valley Lines
* Virgin CrossCountry
* Virgin Trains East Coast
* Virgin Trains West Coast
* Wales and Borders
* Wales & West
* Wessex Trains
* West Anglia Great Northern
* Wrexham & Shropshire4

* 1 Separate franchise until 2008; now a sub-brand of Govia Thameslink Railway
* 2 Separate franchise until 2007, now a sub-brand of South Western Railway
* 3 Separate franchise until 2006; later reintroduced as a sub-brand of Govia Thameslink Railway
* 4 Open-access operator
* 5 Operator of last resort

Future

| Future operators|

* Greater Anglia

|

Prospective operators|

* Go-op
* Virgin Trains
* International
* Open Access
* Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway

* Category
* Commons
* Maps

* v
* t
* e

Transport in London

Companies and
organisations|

| Transport for
London (TfL)|

| London Underground|

* Night Tube
* Bakerloo
* Central
* Circle
* District
* Hammersmith & City
* Jubilee
* Metropolitan
* Northern
* Piccadilly
* Victoria
* Waterloo & City

|

London Rail|

* Docklands Light Railway
* Elizabeth line
* Tramlink
* London Overground
* Liberty
* Lioness
* Mildmay
* North
* West
* Suffragette
* Weaver
* Windrush
* East
* South

London Buses|

*   * East London Transit
* Superloop
* Night buses

Other|

* Coach station
* Cycle hire
* Dial-a-Ride
* IFS Cloud Cable Car
* London River Services
* London Streets
* Source London
* Taxi and Private Hire office

Bus operators|

* Arriva Herts & Essex
* Arriva London
* Arriva Southern Counties
* First Bus London
* London Sovereign
* London United
* Go-Ahead London
* Blue Triangle
* Docklands Buses
* London Central
* London General
* Metrobus
* Metroline
* Stagecoach London
* East London
* Selkent
* Thameside
* Transport UK London Bus
* Uno

River operators|

* Lower Thames and Medway Passenger Boat Company
* Thames Clippers
* Thames River Services
* Westminster Passenger Services Association

Train operators|

* Arriva Rail London
* Avanti West Coast
* c2c
* Caledonian Sleeper
* Chiltern Railways
* East Midlands Railway
* Eurostar
* Govia Thameslink Railway
* Gatwick Express
* Great Northern
* Southern
* Thameslink
* Grand Central
* Great Western Railway
* Greater Anglia
* Stansted Express
* GTS Rail Operations
* Heathrow Express
* Hull Trains
* London North Eastern Railway
* London Northwestern Railway
* Lumo
* South Western Railway
* Southeastern

Other|

* Global Infrastructure Partners
* Heathrow Airport Holdings
* Port of London Authority

Airports|

| Within London|

* City
* Heathrow
* London Heliport
* Military: Northolt
* Private: Biggin Hill

|

Outside London|

* Gatwick
* Luton
* Southend
* Stansted

Major stations|

| Central area|

* Baker Street
* Bank-Monument
* Blackfriars
* Bond Street
* Cannon Street
* Charing Cross
* City Thameslink
* Earl's Court
* Elephant & Castle
* Euston
* Farringdon
* Fenchurch Street
* Green Park
* King's Cross
* Liverpool Street
* London Bridge
* Marylebone
* Moorgate
* Oxford Circus
* Paddington
* St Pancras International
* Tottenham Court Road
* Vauxhall
* Victoria
* Waterloo
* Waterloo East
* Westminster

|

Other|

* Barking
* Bromley South
* Canary Wharf
* Clapham Junction
* Ealing Broadway
* East Croydon
* Finsbury Park
* Heathrow stations
* Highbury & Islington
* Lewisham
* London City Airport
* Richmond
* Stratford
* Surbiton
* Sutton
* Upminster
* West Ham
* West Hampstead stations
* Whitechapel
* Willesden Junction
* Wimbledon

Roads|

| Motorways|

* M1
* M4
* M11
* M25 London Orbital
* Former: M41 (West Cross Route)
* A40(M) (Westway)
* A102(M) (East Cross Route)

|

Ring roads|

* London Inner Ring Road
* North Circular Road
* South Circular Road

Charging|

* Congestion charge
* Low emission zone
* Ultra Low Emission Zone
* Blackwall Tunnel/Silvertown Tunnel charges

Ticketing|

* Freedom Pass
* Oyster card
* Travelcard

Other|

* Cycle routes
* History of public transport authorities
* Accessibility of transport in London
* London Transport Museum
* Places for London
* Port of London
* Regent's Canal
* Thameslink
* Trams
* Trolleybuses
* Windsor House

Former BR sectors|

* British Rail
* InterCity
* Network SouthEast

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Transport in Cardiff

Motorways and A roads|

* M4 motorway
* European route E30
* A48(M) motorway
* A48 road
* A470 road
* A469 road
* A4054 road
* A4119 road
* A4160 road
* A4161 road
* A4232 road

Pedestrian precincts
and commercial streets|

* Bute Street
* Caroline Street
* Cathedral Road
* City Road
* Cowbridge Road East
* Cowbridge Road West
* St Mary Street & High Street
* Lloyd George Avenue
* Newport Road
* West Grove
* Womanby Street

Bus|

* Bus transport in Cardiff
* Trolleybuses
* Cardiff Bus
* Baycar
* Capital City Green
* Capital City Red
* Free b
* Iff card
* Cardiff Central bus station (demolished)
* Cardiff Bus Interchange
* Fflecsi
* First Cymru
* Adventure Travel
* Stagecoach South Wales

Cycling|

* Cycling in Cardiff
* Taff Trail
* Lôn Las Cymru
* Ely Valley Trail
* NCR 88
* Pont y Werin

Railway lines|

* Rail transport in Cardiff
* South Wales Main Line
* Valley lines
* ■ Butetown branch
* ■ City Line
* ■ Coryton Line
* ■ Maesteg Line
* ■ Merthyr line
* ■ Rhondda line
* ■ Rhymney line
* ■ Vale of Glamorgan Line

Railway operators|

* CrossCountry
* Great Western Railway
* Transport for Wales

Major railway stations|

* Cardiff Central
* Cardiff Queen Street

Other city
railway stations|

* Birchgrove
* Cardiff Bay
* Cathays
* Coryton
* Danescourt
* Fairwater
* Grangetown
* Heath High Level
* Heath Low Level
* Lisvane and Thornhill
* Llandaf
* Llanishen
* Ninian Park
* Radyr
* Rhiwbina
* Ty Glas
* Waun-gron Park
* Whitchurch
* List of railway stations in Cardiff

Air|

* Cardiff Airport
* Cardiff Heliport

Water|

* Cardiff Bay Barrage
* Cardiff Waterbus
* River Taff
* River Ely
* Tiger Bay

Proposed transport
network|

South Wales Metro

* Proposed South Wales Metro stations in Cardiff
* Butetown
* Cardiff Parkway
* Crwys Road
* Gabalfa

* v
* t
* e

FirstGroup subsidiaries and divisions

Bus companies|

| Ireland|

* Aircoach

|

UK|

* Ensignbus
* First Aberdeen
* First Bus East of England
* First Bus London
* London Sovereign
* London United
* First Beeline
* First Cymru
* First Essex
* First Glasgow
* First Greater Manchester
* First Hampshire & Dorset
* First South Yorkshire & Midlands
* First Leicester
* First Potteries
* First South Yorkshire
* First Worcester
* First South West
* Buses of Somerset
* Kernow
* Somerset Passenger Solutions
* Truronian
* First Travel Solutions
* First West of England
* First West Yorkshire
* First York
* York Pullman

Railway companies|

* Avanti West Coast (70%)
* Great Western Railway
* Hull Trains
* Lumo
* Tramlink

Other|

London cable car

Former divisions|

* Bristol Airport (51%)
* DSBFirst (25% Danish, 30% Swedish)
* First Capital Connect
* First Chester & The Wirral
* First Great Eastern
* First Great Western Link
* First London
* First Northampton
* First North Western
* First GBRf
* First Scotland East
* First ScotRail
* First Student Canada
* First Student UK
* First Student (United States)
* First Transit
* First TransPennine Express (55%)
* Greyhound Canada
* Voyageur Colonial Bus Lines
* Greyhound Lines
* BoltBus
* Greyhound Mexico
* Greyhound UK
* Heathrow Connect (with Heathrow Airport Holdings)
* New World First Bus (26%)
* South Western Railway (70%)
* TransPennine Express

*[tph]: trains per hour
*[1tph]: 1 train per hour
*[1tp2h]: 1 train every 2 hours
*[2tpd]: 2 trains every day
*[1tpd]: 1 train every day
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template