RAIL commuters in the Cotswolds are to benefit from the largest train fleet upgrade in a generation with additional, faster trains to Moreton station and redoubling of the lines.

First Great Western announced their £67 million franchise this week with aims of starting the work in September. The new franchise will run until at least April 2019.

Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said he was delighted with the announcement. He said: “Following a long campaign which I led I am glad that at last we have had an announcement that confirms we will receive improved services on the North Cotswold Line, with additional trains to and from Moreton, with high capacity, modern electric trains replacing the current ones when the electrification to Oxford is complete. This stock will also incorporate WiFi.

"These new and better services, incorporating an hourly service, follows a long campaign to get the Cotswold Line redoubled from Charlbury to Evesham."

The new franchise will deliver a range of benefits for customers along the North Cotswolds route from Hereford, Worcester, via Evesham, Charlbury, Oxford and through to London. New Super Express Trains, introduced as part of the Government’s Intercity Express Programme, will appear on the North Cotswolds route from summer 2017 onwards. These new trains will provide a significant improvement in rolling stock quality and passenger comfort. Ten carriage trains on peak services will have 15 per cent more standard class seats than on the high speed trains on the route today.

By the beginning of the new franchise First Great Western aims to have a new car park extension in place at Kingham offering over 100 additional spaces and new ticket vending machines will be installed at Evesham and Moreton.

These changes build on timetable changes that the train service is introducing on the North Cotswolds line in May this year which include an earlier and faster morning peak service arrival for customers from Hereford and Worcester areas into Paddington, a new morning service from Moreton to London, two additional direct services from Worcester to Paddington and another direct Paddington to Worcester service with a two hour journey time.

The operator will continue to work with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and other key stakeholders on the case for redoubling further sections of the North Cotswolds line and raising line speeds.

As part of its wider franchise plans, the company will expand the use of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway brand, currently used in its long distance first class carriages and will begin its rebrand before the start of the new franchise in September.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “I am determined that passengers get a railway that is fit for the 21st century. This is a fantastic deal, which will give them more seats, more services and brand new fleets of modern trains."

First Great Western managing director, Mark Hopwood said: “For us, this franchise deal is about changing the way people think about rail. The Great Western network is already seeing the biggest investment since Brunel, and this deal has been designed to match that investment and ambition. It gives passengers newer trains, faster, more frequent services and importantly, given the growth this franchise has seen in recent years, more seats – three million extra seats a year by December 2018.

“We’ve worked with the Department for Transport to make sure passengers get every bit of benefit from the mainline electrification programme, while making sure no area misses out. I believe that the team at First Great Western will deliver for customers and the thriving communities and economies they serve, as well as the taxpayer.”