The Government today signalled the go-ahead for a new fleet of Super Express trains to be built to replace First Great Western’s High Speed Train fleet.

A £7.5bn contract has been awarded to British-led consortium Agility Trains, to build and maintain the fleet of new trains for the Great Western and East Coast main lines.

They are expected to enter service in the Thames Valley from 2015.

The Government said more than 12,500 jobs would be created or safeguarded through the multi-billion-pound order.