Wessex Trains

Wessex Trains

Wessex Trains was a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by National Express that operated the Wessex Trains franchise from October 2001 until March 2006, when the franchise was merged with the Great Western and Thames Valley franchises to form the Greater Western franchise.

Wessex Trains History

In October 1996, Wales & West commenced operating the South West & Wales franchise in Wales and the West Country. It also operated services to Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham International, Southampton Central, Brighton and London Waterloo.

In 2001 the Strategic Rail Authority decided to re-organise the Valley Lines and Wales & West franchises, both being operated by National Express. Wales & West became Wessex Trains from October 2001.

Wessex Trains retained the West Country services with the Welsh services transferred to Wales & Borders although Wessex Trains operated services to Cardiff.

Wessex Trains Services

Wessex Trains ran the majority of local trains in the South West as seen in their route map.

Services ran from Great Malvern and Cardiff to Brighton, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Penzance and on these secondary lines:

• Atlantic Coast Line (Par – Newquay)
• Avocet Line (Exeter – Exmouth)
• Golden Valley Line (Swindon – Gloucester)
• Heart of Wessex Line (Westbury – Weymouth)
• Looe Valley Line (Liskeard – Looe)
• Maritime Line (Truro – Falmouth)
• Riviera Line (Exeter – Paignton)
• Severn Beach Line (Bristol – Avonmouth – Severn Beach)
• St Ives Bay Line (St Erth – St Ives)
• Tamar Valley Line (Plymouth – Gunnislake)
• Tarka Line (Exeter – Barnstaple)

Wessex Trains Rolling Stock

Wessex Trains inherited a fleet of Class 143s, Class 150s, Class 153s and Class 158s from Wales & West.

Wessex Trains leased Class 31 locomotives from Fragonset to haul a set of Mark 2 carriages from 2002 on services from Cardiff and Bristol Temple Meads to Brighton and Weymouth.

• 143 Pacer   Diesel multiple unit   1985–1986
• 150 Sprinter   Diesel multiple unit   1984–1987
• 153 Super Sprinter   Diesel multiple unit   1987–1988
• 158 Express Sprinter   Diesel multiple unit   1989–1992
• Mark 2 carriage   Passenger carriage   1969–1975

Wessex Trains Depots

Wessex Trains' fleet was maintained at Cardiff Canton and Exeter depots.

Wessex Trains Demise

In 2002 as part of a franchise re-organisation by the Strategic Rail Authority, it was announced that the Great Western, Thames Trains and Wessex Trains franchises would be combined to form the Greater Western franchise. This was part of a Strategic Rail Authority strategy to reduce the number of train operating companies providing services from London terminal stations.

Originally it was planned for Wessex Trains to take over the diesel services from Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo on the West of England Main Line operated by the South West Trains as part of the South Western franchise.

On 13 December 2005 the Department for Transport awarded the Greater Western franchise to FirstGroup and the services operated by Wessex Trains transferred to First Great Western on 1 April 2006.

Wessex Trains Overview

Franchise(s): Wessex

14 October 2001 – 31 March 2006
Main Region(s): South West England
Other Region(s): South East England, South Wales
Fleet Size: 70
Stations Called At: 161
Stations Operated: 125
Parent Company: National Express
Reporting Mark: WE
Successor: First Great Western