First Great Western Link: Data & Information
1st April 2004 – 31st March 2006
On 6th 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.
In April 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority invited First Group and Go-Ahead to bid for a two-year extension to the Thames franchise that would coincide with the end date of the First Great Western franchise, after which both would become part of the Greater Western franchise.
In November 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the new franchise to First Group.
Services formerly operated by the Go-Ahead Group, trading as Thames Trains, transferred to First Group, which also held the Great Western franchise (branded as First Great Western), running long-distance services from London Paddington on 1st April 2004.
First rebranded the franchise as First Great Western Link, which ran for two years until 1st April 2006 when First Great Western, First Great Western Link and Wessex Trains were merged into the Greater Western Franchise in accordance with the SRA policy of having only one company running train services into any one London terminus.
On 12 June 2005 Heathrow Connect was introduced as a joint venture between FGWL and BAA. BAA supplied the Class 360 rolling stock and on-board staff. FGWL received the revenue for journeys between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington, and BAA the revenue for journeys between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport.
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 1st April 2006.
Read MoreOn 6th 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.
In April 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority invited First Group and Go-Ahead to bid for a two-year extension to the Thames franchise that would coincide with the end date of the First Great Western franchise, after which both would become part of the Greater Western franchise.
In November 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the new franchise to First Group.
Services formerly operated by the Go-Ahead Group, trading as Thames Trains, transferred to First Group, which also held the Great Western franchise (branded as First Great Western), running long-distance services from London Paddington on 1st April 2004.
First rebranded the franchise as First Great Western Link, which ran for two years until 1st April 2006 when First Great Western, First Great Western Link and Wessex Trains were merged into the Greater Western Franchise in accordance with the SRA policy of having only one company running train services into any one London terminus.
On 12 June 2005 Heathrow Connect was introduced as a joint venture between FGWL and BAA. BAA supplied the Class 360 rolling stock and on-board staff. FGWL received the revenue for journeys between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington, and BAA the revenue for journeys between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport.
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 1st April 2006.
