Great Western Railway (train operating company)
Great Western Railway (train operating company)
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
!An [InterCity 125) as operated by the original Great Western Trains franchise in 1996-1998](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/09014BfLondonPaddington%2C43186GreatWestern.jpg/250px-09014BfLondonPaddington%2C43186GreatWestern.jpg)
History
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%).
Reading List
Report Issue