Thames Trains: former routes and current operators
Thames Trains was the former operator of Thames Valley, Kennet Valley, Cotswold and North Downs services. It preceded First Great Western Link and the enlarged Great Western franchise.
Reviewed 6 November 2026.
Operator history and changes
The Thames Trains franchise began in 1996 and was associated with the Go-Ahead-led operation. It provided many stopping and regional services from London Paddington, alongside the separate Great Western intercity business. Its responsibilities also included the North Downs route between Reading and Gatwick Airport, so the network was not simply a collection of London commuter trains.
FirstGroup took over the Thames franchise in April 2004 under the First Great Western Link name. In April 2006 that operation was combined with First Great Western and Wessex Trains. The resulting business later became today’s Great Western Railway brand. Some former Paddington suburban services subsequently transferred to TfL Rail and now form part of the Elizabeth line, making the modern successor route-dependent.
Former routes and principal stations
Historical Thames Valley and western routes
The former operation served stopping and regional journeys west of Paddington through the Thames and Kennet valleys and towards Oxford and the Cotswolds.
Historical branches and North Downs line
The network included branch-line destinations and a separate Reading–Gatwick corridor. The examples belong to several services, not one through train.
Travelling on these routes today
Use GWR for many successor regional and branch services, and the Elizabeth line for the transferred stopping corridor into London. At Reading or Paddington, compare the actual calling pattern rather than assuming every train stops at the same intermediate stations. For Windsor, specify Central if following the former Thames route; Riverside is a different station on the Waterloo-side network.
Tickets and journey choices
Thames Trains fares and operator-specific concessions are historical. Current products and payment areas may differ between GWR and the Elizabeth line. Check the ticket’s route, operator and time conditions, especially when comparing a stopping service with an intercity train or travelling through the North Downs corridor to Gatwick.
Accessibility and assistance
Check current station access and assistance information for the operator shown in the itinerary. A branch-line connection or a change at Reading can have different boarding arrangements from a through Elizabeth line journey. Include all legs when requesting assistance and check replacement transport if engineering work affects a rural or airport connection.
Sources and further information
Use the current operator's information to check the latest timetable, disruption and assistance arrangements for your travel date.