Great Western Railway (train operating company)

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Pp-move Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox rail company First Greater Western,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 Template:Rws 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

File:09 014 Bf London Paddington, 43 186 Great Western.jpg

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%).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In March 1998, FirstGroup bought out its partners' stakes to give it 100% ownership.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite reportTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> In December 1998, the franchise was rebranded First Great Western.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 1 April 2004, First Great Western Link began operating the Thames Trains franchise. It ran local services from Paddington to Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Rws, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk and Template:Rws. It also operated services from Reading to Template:Stnlnk (via Template:Rws and Template:Stnlnk), and from Reading to Template:Stnlnk.<ref name="New Rail Franchise Begins">Template:Cite press release</ref>

File:166217 at Reading.JPG

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Originally, First planned to subdivide its services into three categories based on routes.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Following feedback from staff and stakeholders, the decision was taken to re-brand and re-livery all services as 'First Great Western'.<ref name="One Brand">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 £1Template:Nbspbillion 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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

By not taking up the option to extend its original franchise contract for a further three years, FirstGroup avoided having to pay £826.6Template:Nbspmillion to the government; it received extra subsidies totalling £133Template:Nbspmillion from the government in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="Rail694">Template:Cite magazine</ref> But it was announced in July 2012 that the franchise would be extended, due to the late issue of the invitation to tender (ITT).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="ITT">Template:Cite press release</ref> The new franchise would include the introduction of new Intercity Express Trains, capacity enhancements and smart ticketing.<ref name="decrease">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> A two-year franchise extension until September 2015 was agreed in October 2013,<ref name="rnextend">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="bbcextend">Template:Cite news</ref> and subsequently extended until March 2019.<ref name="bbcextend2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="guardianextend2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="rnextend2">Template:Cite news</ref> A further extension to April 2019 was granted in March 2015.<ref name="BBCrenewal">Template:Cite news</ref>

The refurbishment of first-class carriages in 2014 included interiors that featured a new GWR logo,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with no First branding. The whole company was rebranded Great Western Railway (GWR) on 20 September 2015,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with the introduction of a green livery in recognition of the former Great Western Railway which existed between 1835 and 1947.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The new livery was introduced when HST interiors were refurbished, and on sleeper carriages and Class 57/6 locomotives.<ref name="BBC">Template:Cite news</ref>

In May 2018, TfL Rail Template:Ndash which later became the Elizabeth line Template:Ndash took over services from Paddington to Template:Rws, and then some stopping services to Reading in December 2019,<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> becoming part of the Elizabeth line service.

In March 2020, the DfT awarded a further extension to 31 March 2023.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

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.<ref name = 2022contract >{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Routes

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.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Intercity

London to South Wales
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
London Paddington to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist Seven trains per day continue to Template:Stnlnk mainly calling at Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk.
London to Bristol and Somerset
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist One train every 2 hours continues towards Template:Stnlnk, calling at Template:Stnlnk, Template:Rws and Template:Stnlnk.
London to Devon and Cornwall
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist Some trains continue to Template:Stnlnk or Template:Stnlnk, calling at various intermediate stations.
London Paddington to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist Alternates with services between London Paddington and Penzance to provide an hourly service on this route.
London Paddington to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist Alternates with services between London Paddington and Plymouth to provide an hourly service between those stations.
London to Oxford and The Cotswolds
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
London Paddington to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist Certain trains terminate at Worcester while others continue to Template:Stnlnk calling at Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk.
London Paddington to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist One train per day continues to Worcester Shrub Hill calling at Template:Stnlnk.

Thames Valley

Great Western Mainline
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist
Reading–Taunton Line
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
London Paddington to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
Reading to Newbury	1	Template:Cslist
Newbury to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist One train runs non-stop from Newbury to Bedwyn.
Greenford Branch
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist
Windsor Branch
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Slough to Template:Stnlnk	3	Shuttle service
Marlow Branch
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
Regatta Line
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist
North Downs Line
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist 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	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist
Oxford Canal Line
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist

Bristol

Wessex Mainline
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
South Wales to Devon and Cornwall
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist 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
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist Alternates with services between Cardiff Central and Penzance to provide an hourly service on this route
Weston-super-Mare to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
Bristol Temple Meads to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
Bristol Temple Meads to Filton Abbey Wood	1	Template:Cslist
Gloucester and the Heart of Wessex Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1tp2h	Template:Cslist Alternates with services from Gloucester to Westbury to provide an hourly service between those stations
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1tp2h	Template:Cslist Two trains per day continue to Template:Stnlnk Alternates with services from Gloucester to Weymouth to provide an hourly service on this route
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist Some services terminate at Template:Rws
Trans-Wilts Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist

West of England

Cornish Mainline
Route	tph	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist Alternates with services from Cardiff Central to Penzance to provide an hourly service on this route
Avocet and Riviera Lines
Route	Template:Abbr	Calling at
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist 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
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist
Template:Stnlnk to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist One train per day continues from Exeter Central to Axminster, calling at Template:Cslist.
Tamar Valley Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Plymouth to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist
Looe Valley Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Liskeard to Template:Stnlnk	1	Template:Cslist One train every 2 hours runs non-stop between Liskeard and Looe.
Atlantic Coast Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Par to Template:Stnlnk	Template:Abbr	Template:Cslist
Maritime Line
Route	tph	Calling at
Truro to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist
St Ives Bay Line
Route	tph	Calling at
St Erth to Template:Stnlnk	2	Template:Cslist

Named trains

Template:Further Great Western Railway's named passenger trains include:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || London Paddington || Hereford
The Devon Express	London Paddington	Paignton
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 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<ref name="gwr.com-2"/>	London Paddington	Pembroke Dock
The Red Dragon<ref name="gwr.com-2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>|| London Paddington || Carmarthen
The Royal Duchy	London Paddington	Penzance
The Saint David<ref name="gwr.com-2"/>	London Paddington	Swansea
The Torbay Express	London Paddington	Paignton
Y Cymro – The Welshman<ref name="gwr.com-2"/>	Swansea	London Paddington

Onboard services

Pullman Dining

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Meals in the restaurant car are not included in the price of rail tickets.

First class

File:Class 800 First Class.jpg

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.<ref name="gwr.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Unlike the previous HSTs, the IETs do not have leather first-class seating due to fire regulations.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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'.<ref name="gwr.com"/>

Standard class

File:Class 802 Interior.jpg

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

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

Disabled passengers

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> GWR said the incident should not have happened and "No one travelling with us should be left feeling like this".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Strike action

In 2015, the imminent arrival of the new Template:BRC 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Two 24-hour strikes were held from 06:00 on 16 and 23 December,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> followed by a 48-hour strike from 06:00 on 19 January 2017.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The dispute was formally resolved in July 2017, as RMT members voted in favour of accepting a new pay deal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

IET issues

File:GWR 800004 (811004) leading bogie.JPG

A Template:BRC 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 Template:BRC and Template:BRC InterCity Express Trains (IET). Eight trains were withdrawn from service and an investigation started into the cause.<ref name="MR2021-06yaw">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref name="MR2021-06jacking">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="MR2021-07cracks">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

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. Template:BRC units operated additional services from London Paddington to Template:Rws which were later extended to Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk 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 Template:Stnlnk. CrossCountry operated a service on behalf of GWR from Swindon to Template:Stnlnk and the few available 800 and 802, were concentrated on services west of Swindon and to Template:Stnlnk.<ref name="MR2021-06news">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="MR2021-07GWRrebound">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Rolling stock

Great Western Railway inherited a fleet of InterCity 125 sets (Class 43 power cars and Mark 3 Coaches) and Template:BRC locomotives and Mark 3 sleeper coaches from BR. In 2006, it inherited a fleet of Template:BRC and Template:BRC units from First Great Western Link, and a fleet of Template:BRC, Template:BRC and Template:BRC units from Wessex Trains.

Inter-City services

Class 800 Intercity Express Train

File:Oxford - GWR 800301 London service.JPG

Class 800 at Template:Rws

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 Template:Stnlink, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk and Template:Stnlnk. 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Class 802 Intercity Express Train

File:Tiverton Parkway - GWR 802110 Plymouth service.JPG

Class 802 at Template:Rws

Long-distance services between London and destinations in the west of the GWR network (such as Template:Stnlnk, Template:Stnlnk, Plymouth and Template:Stnlnk) are mostly operated using the fleet of 36 Class 802 trains, the first of which was introduced on 20 August 2018.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

These trains are almost identical to the Class 800 trains, except they have a higher engine operating power—Template:Convert per engine as opposed to Template:Convert—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.<ref name=todaysrailways/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Sleeper services

Class 57 + Mark 3

File:St Philip's Marsh - GWR 57603.JPG

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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Due to poor availability of the 57/6s, Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 57/3s have been hired from Direct Rail Services.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> in 2023, former DRS 57312 was placed on permanent lease with GWR.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Thames Valley and Bristol services

Class 165/1 Networker Turbo

File:General Railway Pictures 2017 496.jpg

Class 165 on Basingstoke service

The Template:BRC "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:<ref name="COO statement"/> the trains were to be fitted with improved lighting, carpets, toilets, and a revised seating layout.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This refurbishment started in September 2016.

Class 166 Networker Turbo

File:166205 at Bristol Temple Meads.jpg

Class 166 at Template:Rws

The Template:BRC "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

File:Reading - GWR 387132+387143 Didcot service.JPG

Class 387 at Template:Stnlink

The Template:BRC "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<ref name="Maidenhead">Template:Cite news</ref> and later to Didcot Parkway,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 Template:BRC,<ref name="Express">Template:Cite news</ref> entering service on 29 December 2020.

In 2023 3 units were cascaded to Great Northern.<ref name="TRUK256" />

West of England services

Class 43 + Mark 3 HST / Class 255 Castle

File:Stapleton Road - GWR 43094-43194 Castle Class to Cardiff Central.JPG

Class 255 Castle set hauled by HST Class 43 powercars at Template:Rws

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref name="todaysrailways">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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)<ref name="adelante">Template:Cite news</ref> 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 Template:Stnlink to the west of England,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

GWR's High Speed Train fleet were refurbished by Bombardier in Derby and Ilford between 2006 and 2008,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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

File:Powederham - GWR 150202 Paignton train.JPG

Class 150/2 skirting the Exe estuary

The fleet of 17 two-coach Template:BRC 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.<ref name="COO statement"/> Five Class 150 sets were hired from Arriva Trains Wales from March 2008 until they were returned in November 2010.

Class 158 Express Sprinter

File:GWR 158956 02.jpg

Class 158 at Template:Rws

The Template:BRC 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.<ref name="COO statement">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Class 158 Reformations">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, following their operations largely being taken over by Class 165 and Template:Brc units in the Bristol area, most of these units were reformed to restore them to 2 coach formation.Template:Citation needed

The fleet was refurbished in a programme begun in 2007,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="158refurb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2018, the 158s began running alongside the first completed Class 255 Castle set on services between Template:Rws, Template:Rws, Template:Rws and Template:Rws. Since then, more of the 158 fleet have gradually started to move more west with more 158 sets working services between Template:Rws and Template:Rws / Template:Rws. 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 Template:Rws / Bristol to Penzance route alongside the Castle sets.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Current fleet

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Qty.	Carriages	Routes<ref name=":0" />	Year Built
				mph	km/h
Commuter, regional and branch line
Sprinter	150/2	File:Caerdydd Canolog - GWR 150248.JPG	DMU	75	120	20<ref name="RailExpress337"/>	2	Template:Plainlist	1986Template:Ndash1987
						Template:Scalable image
	158 Express Sprinter	File:Bathpool - GWR 158763+158747 Cardiff service.JPG		90	145	13<ref name="TRUK259">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2	Template:Plainlist	1989Template:Ndash1992
						5<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3
						Template:Scalable imageTemplate:Scalable image
Networker	165 Networker Turbo	File:165132 Weymouth.jpg				20<ref name="RailExpress337"/>	2	Template:Plainlist	1992
						16<ref name="RailExpress337"/>	3
						Template:Scalable imageTemplate:Scalable image
	166 Networker Turbo	File:Westbury - GWR 166210 ecs for Frome service.JPG				21<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3	Template:Plainlist	1992Template:Ndash1993
						Template:Scalable image
Bombardier Electrostar	387	File:Acton Main Line - GWR 387150 Paddington service.JPG	EMU	110	177	30<ref name="TRUK256" />	4<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	London Paddington or Reading – Didcot Parkway, Newbury, Bristol Parkway or Swindon London Paddington – Cardiff Central	2016Template:Ndash2017
						Template:Scalable image
Class 255 Castle<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	43 HST	File:Bathpool - GWR 43009-43155 Cardiff service.JPG	Diesel locomotive	125	201	11<ref name="RailExpress337">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	4	Exeter St Davids – Plymouth – Penzance<ref name="MRI246">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1975Template:Ndash1982
	Mark 3	File:GWR Mk3 TS 48111 Plymouth.JPG	Passenger coach	22<ref name="RailExpress337"/>
				Template:Scalable image
	Inter-City
Hitachi AT300	800 IET	File:South Liberty Lane - GWR 800036+800026 London train.JPG	BMU	125	201<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	36<ref name="RailExpress337"/>	5<ref name="railwaymag">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="rail20160629">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	London PaddingtonTemplate:Unbulleted list <ref name="rail20160629" />	2014Template:Ndash2018
						21<ref name="RailExpress337"/>	9
						Template:Scalable imageTemplate:Scalable image
	802 IET	File:Great Western Railway Class 802 (802010) at Par.jpg				22<ref name="RailExpress337"/>	5	London PaddingtonTemplate:Unbulleted list<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2017Template:Ndash2018
						14<ref name="RailExpress337"/>	9
						Template:Scalable imageTemplate:Scalable image
Sleeper
Night Riviera	57	File:St Philip's Marsh - GWR 57603.JPG	Diesel locomotive	95	152	5<ref name="RailExpress337"/>	VariesTemplate:Efn	Template:Plainlist	1964–1967 (Rebuild: 1998Template:Ndash2004)
	Mark 3	File:Exeter St Davids - GWR Mk3 BFO 17173.JPG	Passenger coach	110	177	20<ref name="RailExpress337"/>			1975Template:Ndash1988
Shunting locomotives
<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	08	File:Old Oak Common - GWR 08836 running up through the yard.JPG	Shunting locomotive	15	24	8	n/a	Stock movements in depots	1952Template:Ndash1962

Past fleet

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Total	Withdrawn	Notes
				mph	km/h
Commuter, regional and branch line
Pacer	142	File:Exeter TMD - FGW 142001.jpg	DMU	75	120	12	2011	Replaced by Class 165 Networker Turbo and Class 166 Networker Turbo
	143	File:Barnstaple - GWR 143619 leaving for Exmouth.JPG				8	2020
Sprinter	150/0	File:150002 at Exeter St Davids station.jpg				2		Template:Plainlist
	150/1	File:Dawlish - fGWR 150101 Paignton train.JPG				17	2018
	153 Super Sprinter	File:Exeter TCD - GWR 153377.JPG				14	2018Template:Ndash2019	Template:Plainlist
Bombardier Electrostar	387/1	File:Reading - GWR 387132+387143 Didcot service.JPG	EMU	110	177	15	2019Template:Ndash2020, 2023	Template:Plainlist
	387/2	File:Twyford - GTSR 387205 coupled to GWR 387146.JPG				6	2021–22	Template:Plainlist
	387/3	File:Thatcham - c2c 387306 approaching from Newbury.JPG				3		Template:Plainlist
Inter-City
InterCity 125	43 (HST)	File:Bristol Temple Meads - GWR 43188 rear of ecs leaving platform 13.JPG	Diesel locomotive	125	200	91	2019	Template:Plainlist
	Mark 3	File:IC125@40 - TF 41146 at Cardiff Central.JPG	Passenger coach			408
Alstom Coradia	180 Adelante	File:Old Oak Common - GWR 180104.JPG	DMU	125	200	14	2017	Template:Plainlist

File:NVA 96603 at Penzance.jpg

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 Template:BRC locomotives with Mark 2 coaching stock. A second set hauled by EWS Template:BRCs 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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 Template:BRC 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 Template:BRC 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 Template:BRC 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 Template:BRC Adelante units, operating on the Great Western Main Line, but following technical issues they were transferred elsewhere.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="adelante"/> The Class 180s left GWR in stages between June and December 2017 to join Grand Central.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

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,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and ending in April 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Future fleet

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 Template:BRC.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On 27 November 2024, 175002 was the first Class 175 unit to transfer to GWR.<ref name="RE344">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Family	Class	Image	Type	Top speed		Quantity of units	Carriages per unit	Routes	Year built
				mph	km/h
Alstom Coradia	175/0	File:175009CDF.jpg	DMU	100	160	10	2	Template:Indented plainlist<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1999–2001
	175/1	File:Transport for Wales 175 107 (52020469145).jpg				16	3
Vivarail D-Train	230	File:D-Train-230004-700-Bedford-P1560391 (33859486298).jpg	Template:Indented plainlist	60	97	1	3	West Ealing – Greenford	Template:Indented plainlist
						3	2

Rejected fleet

File:GWr 769959.jpg

Class 769 on a trial run at Template:Rws

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,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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 Template:Brc units were modified for Heathrow Express services, the future plan for these units was to be operating on services between Template:Stnlink, Template:Stnlink and Template:Stnlink, which would have meant operating on non-electrified lines, Template:Nowrap OHLE and Template:Nowrap 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The Class 769 was expected to enter squadron service with GWR between June and December 2021,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref name=RG>Template:Cite news</ref>

Livery

Template:Multiple image Great Western Trains adopted a livery of dark-green upper body and ivory lower body, with a stylised 'Merlin' bird logo.<ref name="tauntontrains.co.uk">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> This livery was sometimes known as the 'fag packet' livery.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="tauntontrains.co.uk"/>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Depots

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	Template:Stn	Template:Cslist	File:North Pole Train Maintenance Centre 2015.jpg	Operated by Agility Trains
Reading	Template:Stnlnk	Template:Cslist	File:Reading MMB 23 Reading Traincare Depot.jpg	Rebuilt to the North of its original location for the new flyover.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Stoke Gifford	Template:Stnlnk	800, 802	File:2018 at Stoke Gifford Depot - west end.JPG	Operated by Agility Trains
St Phillip's Marsh	Template:Nowrap	Template:Cslist	File:St Philip's Marsh - towards West Junction.JPG
Exeter TMD	Template:Stnlnk	Template:Cslist	File:2021 at Exeter TMD (4) train wash.JPG
Laira	Template:Stnlnk	Template:Cslist	File:Laira - GWR 43198 and 08641.JPG
Long Rock	Template:Stnlnk	Template:Cslist	File:2018 at Long Rock TCD - new depot west end (57604).JPG
Swansea Maliphant	Template:Stnlnk	800	File:2018 at Swansea Maliphant depot - from footbridge.JPG	Operated by Agility Trains

Past depots

Depot	Nearest station	Allocation	Picture	Notes
Old Oak Common	London Paddington	Template:Cslist	File:2017 at Old Oak Common - HST shed.JPG	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Landore	Template:Stnlnk	Template:Cslist	File:2018 at Landore Depot - maintenance shed.JPG	Closed for GWR in 2018

TV documentary

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.Template:Citation needed

Future of the franchise

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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> A new contract was agreed on 30 March 2020, running for three years, extendable to four.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• 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

External links

• Template:Official website

Template:S-start Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-inc |- Template:S-bef |- Template:S-bef Template:S-end Template:UK TOCs Template:Transport in London Template:Transport in Cardiff Template:FirstGroup