A decision is expected “imminently”on one of Oxfordshire’s main rail networks.
The First Great Western service includes train routes from London Paddington to south Wales, the Cotswolds and the west of England.
A new 15-year franchise should have begun earlier this year, but the Government’s rail industry franchise programme was delayed after the West Coast bidding process had to be abandoned.
Since then, FirstGroup’s tenure on the Paddington route and all branch lines and local services has been continuing, but the current contract will end on Saturday, October 12.
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