News

Theresa welcomes increase in FGW capacity

  • 20 Mar 2014

Theresa May has welcomed an announcement that additional standard class seating capacity will be provided on First Great Western train services. FGW have been working with the Department for Transport to secure improvements on the Great Western network, and have announced additional joint investment of around £13 million to increase standard class capacity by converting some first class carriages.

This will result in around 3,000 more standard class seats a day across the network, providing 16% more capacity during morning peak services.

The first completed carriages are expected to be running in June 2014. FGW have also confirmed that they will be looking to bring more trains onto the network in the longer term.

Commenting, Theresa said: “I know that many people have felt that the balance between standard class and first class seats was skewed. It can be very frustrating for commuters to see empty seats in first class when there is overcrowding in standard class. I therefore welcome this announcement as part of FGW’s work to increase standard class capacity. This will be a boost to Maidenhead and Twyford residents and will help address overcrowding on peak services.”