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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Troubled train firm to spend £29m | Troubled train firm to spend £29m |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| First Great Western is to pay for more trains and better passenger compensation after poor service on lines to Wales and the West Country. | First Great Western is to pay for more trains and better passenger compensation after poor service on lines to Wales and the West Country. |
| The Swindon-based train operator agreed the £29m investment package after discussions with the government. | The Swindon-based train operator agreed the £29m investment package after discussions with the government. |
| Extra drivers and guards will be recruited to resolve a staff shortage. | Extra drivers and guards will be recruited to resolve a staff shortage. |
| Last month, the company came bottom of a passenger satisfaction league table and a Bristol rail user group staged a fare strike protest. | Last month, the company came bottom of a passenger satisfaction league table and a Bristol rail user group staged a fare strike protest. |
| FGW announced on Tuesday that five extra three-carriage trains will be leased for the troubled Cardiff to Portsmouth service. | |
| Doubling compensation | |
| Compensation for delayed passengers next year will increase by half, on top of the doubling of compensation already announced for this year. | Compensation for delayed passengers next year will increase by half, on top of the doubling of compensation already announced for this year. |
| There will be extra discounted tickets available, better information systems and £4m will be spent on staff training. | There will be extra discounted tickets available, better information systems and £4m will be spent on staff training. |
| A statement from the operator said: "FGW acknowledges that its performance has fallen short of its own standards and the expectations of passengers. | |
| ...together with the management changes we have made, we are confident of our ability to improve performance Andrew Haines, FGW chief operating officer | |
| "FGW is committed to improving performance and taking the necessary action to ensure that cancellations and delays are minimised. | |
| "Following discussions with the DfT, FGW has agreed to make additional investments to provide an enhanced service for passengers and agreed a plan to improve operational performance." | |
| Chief operating officer Andrew Haines added: "There is a considerable momentum to transform the business and taken together with the management changes we have made, we are confident of our ability to improve performance." |