THE GOVERNMENT has reached a £68 million agreement for First Great Western (FGW) to continue operating trains in the South West until 2019.

The new deal which will run until April 2019 includes about 3,000,000 additional seats by 2018 across the franchise.

The agreement will also see an increase in the number of morning peak seats into London by 4,000 by the end of 2018 as well as the introduction of 58 four-car electric trains for Thames Valley services which will make journeys to Oxford and London faster.

The deal also includes a £30 million investment to improve stations and car parks, including 2,000 more car park spaces.

A £2.5 million fund to improve accessibility and the introduction of 369 Hitachi-built carriages will also be included.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “I am determined that passengers in the West, Thames Valley and South Wales 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.”

FirstGroup chief executive Tim O’Toole said: “As the proud operators of this important franchise, we will be using our unrivalled knowledge and experience of the network to help deliver significant upgrades over the next few years, in particular the introduction of new trains as the mainline is electrified.

“We are already working closely with the DfT and Network Rail to deliver the initial phases of the £7.5bn Great Western Mainline modernisation programme.

“This investment is the biggest on the route since Brunel, and will transform a key part of the country’s transport infrastructure.

“Under our experienced management, the franchise will see new or refurbished trains on every part of the network, resulting in more frequent and faster journeys and an increase in the number of seats.”

FGW will be responsible for introducing Hitachi’s Intercity Express Trains into service between London, Bristol and South Wales and the Cotswolds from summer 2017.