Demise
In 2002 as part of a franchise reorganisation 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 South West Trains.
On 13 December 2005 the Department for Transport awarded the Greater Western franchise to First and the services operated by Wessex Trains transferred to First Great Western on 1 April 2006.
Read more about this topic: Wessex Trains