FIRST Great Western recognises the importance of supporting the communities we serve and the value of transport links to local economies.
For the first time passenger numbers have hit two million on the Devon and Cornwall community rail lines.
Across the seven community rail lines, passenger numbers rose by 4.7 per cent during the last year, taking the increase in passengers up by as much as 147 per cent since 2006.
Our community rail lines are not only among the fastest growing, but also among the most reliable in the country.
These figures show the value of First Great Western rail services in the South West and how productive partnerships really can deliver results that benefit people and the economy.
We run 9,079 services every week, calling at 276 stations. Our trains cover a total of 70 million miles and carry 90 million passengers every year, providing high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train and sleeper services across the Greater Western rail franchise area.
This includes the Westcountry, with direct services to stations on route from Penzance to Reading and London Paddington, with the country's only remaining silver service Pullman Dining car, overnight sleepers and connecting services on route to Bristol, the Cotswolds and the London hub airports of Heathrow and Gatwick.
Every day our approachable and friendly staff help transport thousands of people to their workplaces, to important meetings, to visit friends and relatives or simply to enjoy a day out. We recognise the key role we play in the economy and in the communities we serve.
