A new timetable affecting Oxford rail commuters should be free of major shocks, First Great Western's new managing director has pledged.

Andrew Haines took over the top job last week.

And one of the first things he told the Oxford Mail was that "lessons had been learned" after last December's timetable changes prompted outrage by passenger groups and the county's MPs.

Last year, two key early-morning commuter services from Oxford to London Paddington were axed in a revision to the timetable.

However, platform protests by angry commuters resulted in the services being reinstated.

Ahead of the new timetable announcement, the 43-year-old father-of-two, from East Hanney, near Wantage, said: "The past 12 months has been a tough time for customers, especially those in the Oxford area, but we have learned from last year about the need for wider consultation and as a result, we have talked for many months with commuters about the forthcoming timetable changes.

"As a result, I would be disappointed if there were any major shocks for passengers in the new timetable.

"The devil is in the detail and you need first-rate detail and first-rate consultation."

Zahra Akkerhuys, a spokesman for passenger user group Ox Rail Action, said the chaos caused by timetable changes last year must not be repeated.

She said: "A change at the top was definitely needed and Mr Haines really has an opportunity to make his mark.

"However, at the moment, we are all on tenterhooks because we have not actually seen a copy of the new timetable.

"I'm pleased Mr Haines is citing all this constructive discussion, but until we actually see the timetable, then we cannot make a proper judgement.

"Then we need to see if the new timetable actually works in practice and does bring improvements in punctuality."

Mr Haines pointed out that commuters between Oxford and London were already benefiting from 510-seat high speed trains replacing the Adelante trains which carried only 284 passengers.

He said commuters would also benefit from a £400,000 facelift to Oxford station to cope with growing numbers of passengers.

The work, due to start next month, will include a new ticket office and passenger helpdesk in the main building's concourse, new toilets and replacement seating and tables in the food court area.

Facilities will also be improved on platform two, which is used by northbound trains, where there will be a new waiting room and toilets and helpdesk.

Work is due to finish in December and Mr Haines said he hoped the refurbishment would not cause any major disruption for passengers.

The project is part of First's £200m investment programme in trains, stations and customer service.