Editing First Great Western Link (section)

==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 station group|London terminal]]. This was expected to improve efficiency and reliability.<ref>[http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=200211060700514089D SRA Announces New Franchise for the West] Strategic Rail Authority Press Release 6 November 2002</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=FGW, Thames & Wessex to become one |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]]|issue=448|date=13 November 2002|page=5}}</ref>

In December 2005 the [[Department for Transport]] awarded the new Greater Western franchise to First with the services operated by FGWL transferring to [[First Great Western]] on 1 April 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/greater-western-franchise|title=Greater Western Franchise|publisher=Department for Transport|format=Invitation to tender|date=2 February 2006}}</ref>