Main region(s) Thames Valley Parent company Go-Ahead Fleet size 62 (Classes 165 and 166) | National Rail abbreviation TT Founded 1996 | |
 | ||
Franchise(s) Thames Trains
13 October 1996 – 31 March 2004 Other region(s) West Midlands, Cotswolds and North Downs Stations called at Similar number to that of
First Great Western Link | ||
Thames trains class 165 leaves london paddington
Thames Trains was a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by Go-Ahead that operated the Thames Trains franchise from October 1996 until March 2004.
Contents
Thames trains 166220 arrives at charlburry
History
The Thames Trains franchise was awarded by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising to Victory Rail Holdings, a company owned by Go-Ahead (65%) and some ex British Rail managers (35%), with operations commencing on 13 October 1996. Go-Ahead bought the remaining shares it didn't own in June 1998.
Services
Thames Trains 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. It also ran services from Reading to Basingstoke and Reading to Gatwick Airport.
In 1998 a service from Oxford to Bristol was introduced in partnership with First Great Western. This was withdrawn in 2003 at the request of the Strategic Rail Authority to relieve congestion.
Depot
Thames Trains' fleet was maintained at Reading depot.
Demise
In April 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority invited First and Go-Ahead to bid for a two-year franchise. On 4 November 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the new franchise to First with the services operated by Thames Trains transferring to First Great Western Link on 1 April 2004.