FIRST Great Western will continue to operate trains through Oxfordshire until 2019 after an agreement was made with the Department of Transport.

The company announced plans this morning to deliver the largest train fleet upgrade in a generation as part of its new franchise that starts in September and will run until at least 2019. 

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Improvements will include 9,000 extra seats every day, free wi-fi, more car parking spaces and faster trains between South Wales, Bristol and London. 

FirstGroup Chief Executive, Tim O'Toole said: "We are delighted to be awarded the contract by the DfT to operate the Great Western franchise until at least April 2019, in a deal that will deliver for passengers and taxpayers.

"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."

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. 

"This government knows the importance of our railways. That is why they are a vital part of our long term economic plan, with over £38 billion being spent on the network between 2014 and 2019."