First Great Western (FGW) has launched new trains to operate throughout the north Cotswolds as part of a drive to upgrade the service.
In November, FGW signed a £29 million deal with the Department for Transport to introduce an additional 48 vehicles into its fleet.
Now, five new trains – 25 carriages – that create a fleet of Class 180 trains have been dedicated to north Cotswolds services.
First Great Western managing director Mark Hopwood said: “I am delighted to be able to launch the return of these trains onto the Great Western Network.
“Progress has remained on target for the vehicles to be in place before the end of the summer. This will mean virtually all the peak-time services we run from Worcester and Great Malvern will now be offered by high-speed Class 180s rather than turbos, with five carriages rather than three.
“These trains are more comfortable on board, there are more tables for the seats and they can travel faster, offering a more pleasant travelling experience.”
The investment in the five 180s is part of First Great Western’s commitment to provide an additional 4,500 seats across the morning and evening peaks across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley into and out of London.
