The Department for Transport has awarded Great Western Railway a National Rail Contract which means that they will continue to operate the Great Western network

Great Western Railways (GWR’s) new contract will run until the 21st of June 2025 and could also see a possible further three years added at the discretion of the Secretary of State.

GWR is thoroughly committed to getting people to travel by train and is focused on bringing improvements to customer experience alongside investing in sustainable services and providing better value for money for both customers and the taxpayer.

GWR took over the Great Western franchise in 2015 and has seen good levels of satisfaction from customers which has seen an increase from 81% to 91% which is believed to be due to the introduction of its high-speed intercity Express Trains that saw a huge timetable change back in December 2019.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a National Rail Contract by the Department for Transport, which is a sign of its confidence in GWR as a trusted operator, and means we can continue to build on welcoming more people back to the railway.

“We look forward to working with our rail partners to develop services designed to meet changing customer needs, and putting passengers at the heart of an updated, modern railway.”

Rail Minister Wendy Morton said: “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Great Western Railway, and excited by its plans to deliver more benefits for local communities.

“During the pandemic, GWR was instrumental in keeping critical services moving and this new contract will see it continue to deliver our ambitious Plan for Rail and provide a fantastic service for passengers.”