Overview

First Great Western was a major UK train operating company, part of FirstGroup, which operated intercity and regional rail services across the west of England and South Wales. It was established in 1996 during the privatisation of British Rail, taking over services previously run by InterCity Great Western. The brand remained in operation until 2015, when it was rebranded as Great Western Railway (GWR) to align with the historic railway identity.

First Great Western began operations in February 1996, running long-distance services from London Paddington to the West Country, South Wales, and the Cotswolds. Over the years, it underwent franchise reshaping, including the absorption of services from Wessex Trains and First Great Western Link in 2006. The company’s performance was often under scrutiny, with issues such as overcrowding, delays, and franchise management challenges attracting criticism. However, it remained the key operator connecting London with western England and Wales.

The First Great Western network was extensive, spanning London Paddington to Penzance, Cardiff, Swansea, and Bristol, with regional services across the Thames Valley, Cotswolds, and South West.

Highlights included:

• High-speed services from London to Bristol, Cardiff, and beyond.

• Intercity links connecting Cornwall with the capital.

• Regional stopping services in the Thames Valley and west of England.

The fleet under First Great Western consisted primarily of InterCity 125 High Speed Trains (HSTs), Class 180 Adelantes, and a range of diesel and electric multiple units for regional services, including Classes 150, 153, 158, 165, and 166. Trains offered both Standard and First Class seating, with many equipped with Wi-Fi, catering services on longer-distance routes, and at-seat trolley service. The HSTs were the backbone of intercity operations, famous for their speed and comfort.

First Great Western provided a full range of ticket types including Advance, Off-Peak, and Anytime fares. First Class passengers enjoyed larger seats, more space, and complimentary refreshments. Given the high demand for key commuter and leisure routes, seat reservations were strongly recommended, particularly on long-distance journeys to the West Country and South Wales.

First Great Western had a mixed reputation. While it benefited from the speed and reach of its HST services, it was often criticised for overcrowding, punctuality issues, and franchise management difficulties, particularly in the mid-2000s. Nevertheless, it played a central role in the UK’s rail network, and its rebranding as Great Western Railway in 2015 aimed to restore passenger trust by drawing on the proud heritage of the original Great Western Railway.

• The Penzance to London Paddington route, known as the Night Riviera, was one of only two remaining UK sleeper services.

• First Great Western’s HST fleet was among the fastest diesel services in the world.

• The rebrand to Great Western Railway revived the classic green livery associated with the pre-nationalisation railway.

All files listed below are in compressed format and will need to be unpacked with an archiving program, we recommend 7-Zip which is completely free and can be downloaded from here.

• 2004 - Summer
• 2005-06 - Winter
• 2006 - Summer
• 2006-07 - Winter
• 2007 - Summer
• 2008 - Summer
• 2008-09 - Winter
• 2009-10 - Winter
• 2010 - Summer
• 2010-11 - Winter
• 2011 - Summer