This is the story of the train operating company First Great Western, whose performance rose from being the worst for a long-distance operator in the UK to becoming one of the best in a few short years, and whose passengers felt so disgruntled they even organised a fare strike. The franchise grew out of the Great Western's privatisation in 1993; the company, as it currently stands, was created after the merger of the First Great Western, Great Western Link, and Wessex Trains franchises in 2006. However, in 2008 the Department for Transport became so disillusioned with the company that it issued a Remedial Notice Plan, the first step to a holder losing its franchise-before a new management team kick-started the company back into life. In this book, the reader can find out how First Great Western became an award-winning train operator after coming so close to losing the franchise; they can also see photographs of the only Pullman Dining service in the UK, on the Paddington- Penzance sleeper train.The reader can learn about what goes on at one of First Great Western's main Traction Maintenance Depots, and about how new life was breathed into rolling stock that was old enough to be considered railway heritage. This book also discusses how the electrification of the Great Western Main Line will improve passenger services and cut journey times.

About the Author
John Balmforth is a retired professional railway man who has continued a lifelong interest in the railways as the author of five successful books published by Ian Allan Publishing: Virgin Trains - A Decade of Progress (2007), GNER - The Route of the Flying Scotsman (2008), Virgin Atlantic (2009), South West Trains (2011) and Virgin Trains - From HST to Pendolino (2012). Previously, Balmforth was Deputy Chair of the Statutory Rail Passengers Committee for the Midlands where he was the author of a number of reports published by the RPC on railways.


Book Information
ISBN 9781781550045
Author John Balmforth
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Fonthill Media Ltd
Publisher Fonthill Media Ltd
Weight(grams) 400g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 165mm * 9mm