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Franchise(s):	Wessex Trains 14 October 2001 - 31 March 2006
Main Region(s):	South West
Other Region(s):	South Wales, South East
Fleet size:	70
Stations:	161 (125 operated)
Parent company:	National Express Group
Web site:	www.wessextrains.co.uk

A Wessex Class 153

A Class 150/2 unit in West Country advertising livery. Many of these units were named after local attractions.

A class 143 in Advertising vinyls for the city of Bristol

Wessex Trains was the primary passenger rail operator in the South West of England. The company operated trains in the region bounded by Penzance, Cardiff, Gloucester, Worcester and Brighton. In addition to running trains, Wessex Trains was responsible for the operation of 125 passenger stations.

Wessex Trains was formed on 14 October 2001 when the former Wales and West company was divided into two separate operators, Wessex Trains – operating in southwest England – and Wales and Borders – running trains in Wales and the adjoining parts of England. They were both owned by the National Express Group until Arriva took over the Wales and Borders franchise in 2003.

Originally it was planned for Wessex to take over the diesel services of South West Trains – some route maps even showed the West of England Main Line as about to transfer. This would have left all services from the South West to London under the control of one operator. The proposed transfer never took place, however. A change of policy by the government led to the decision instead to merge Wessex and First Great Western into the new Greater Western franchise.

Wessex Trains merged with First Great Western and First Great Western Link on 1 April 2006. The new franchise is operated by First Group and all its services operate under the name First Great Western.

Wessex Trains ran the majority of local trains in the South West. They did not run the high-speed long distance trains, however, these were and are run by First Great Western between London Paddington Station and Penzance via Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth, Virgin Trains between Birmingham and Penzance and South West Trains between London Waterloo Station and Paignton via Exeter and London to Weymouth via Southampton and Bournemouth.

Wessex Trains ran on north south routes from Cardiff and Gloucester in the north and Weymouth and Brighton in the south to Bristol and Bath. The company also ran the local routes and branch lines in Devon and Cornwall, such as the Newquay, Exmouth and St Ives holiday lines.

In late 2004, Wessex Trains' area of operation expanded with some trains continuing beyond Worcester to Great Malvern.

For a fuller description of the routes operated by Wessex Trains, see the following links.

• Main Lines:
• Great Western Main Line (London-Bristol-Exeter-Plymouth-Penzance)
• South Wales Main Line (Bristol-Cardiff-Swansea-West Wales)
• Wessex Main Line (Bristol-Bath-Salisbury-Southampton)
• West Coastway Line (Southampton-Portsmouth-Brighton)
• 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 Train's fleet consisted entirely of diesel multiple units (DMUs), which worked day-to-day passenger services. During some periods, the company hired Fragonset Railways Class 31 diesel locomotives and Mk.2 coaching stock to work longer distance services. The regular use of locomotive-haulage ended on 4 December 2004.

For further details of the DMU fleet, see the following links:

• Class 143 - Used on commuter services around Bristol and Avon - refubished in 2000
• Class 150 - Used on the majority of services - refurbished in 2002-2003
• Class 153 - Used on lightly used routes and for strengthening other services
• Class 158 - Used on long distance services on the Wessex Main Line

Some of the Class 158s were converted to three coaches. Unlike the purpose-built three car Class 158s and Class 159s, the centre car was a Driving Motor with the cab locked out of use and an adapter to connect the different sized gangways.

Generally services operated by Class 158 units were marketed as Alphaline

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Wessex Trains

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