Main region(s) Thames Valley National Rail abbreviation FK Founded 2004 Fleet size 62 | Stations called at 95 | |
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Franchise(s) Thames1 April 2004 – 31 March 2006 Website www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk | ||
First great western first great western link part 1
First Great Western Link was a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup that operated the Thames Trains franchise from April 2004 until March 2006.
Contents
- First great western first great western link part 1
- History
- Services
- Rolling stock
- Depot
- Demise
- References
History
In April 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority invited First and Go-Ahead to bid for a two-year extension to the Thames Trains franchise. On 4 November 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the franchise to First and the services operated by Thames Trains transferred to First Great Western Link on 1 April 2004.
On 12 June 2005 Heathrow Connect was introduced as a joint venture between First Great Western Link and BAA.
Services
First Great Western Link ran passenger services from along the Great Western Main Line from London Paddington to Greenford, Windsor & Eton Central, Marlow, Henley, Reading, Bedwyn, Oxford, Bicester Town, Worcester, Hereford and Stratford-upon-Avon and the Reading to Basingstoke and Gatwick Airport services.
The Stratford-upon-Avon service was transferred to Chiltern Railways in December 2004 with First Great Western Link ceasing to operate beyond Banbury.
Rolling stock
First Great Western Link inherited a fleet of Class 165 and Class 166s from Thames Trains. A franchise commitment was to use five Class 180 Adelantes from sister company First Great Western on Cotswold Line services from December 2004 releasing five Class 165 for transfer to Chiltern Railways.
Depot
First Great Western Link's fleet was maintained at Reading depot.
Demise
On 6 November 2002 as part of a franchise reorganisation by the Strategic Rail Authority, it was announced that the Great Western, Thames Trains and Wessex Trains franchises would be combined to form the Greater Western franchise. This was part of a Strategic Rail Authority strategy to reduce the number of train operating companies providing services from a single London terminal. This was expected to improve efficiency and reliability.
On 13 December 2005 the Department for Transport awarded the new Greater Western franchise to First with the services operated by First Great Western Link transferring to First Great Western on 1 April 2006.