Rail passengers on trains from Didcot Parkway are to be questioned as part of efforts by intercity operator First Great Western to improve its services.

It has awarded a one-year contract to market research firm ORC International.

From December (2002), it will conduct 400 interviews a month across the region with customers and present the results quarterly.

Louise Blyth, Great Western's head of marketing, said customer confidence fell following the Hatfield train crash two years ago, which killed four people. "We hope that our on-going programme of investment and improvement will ensure the rise in customer satisfaction continues," she said.

"It remains essential that we identify areas for further improvement which are going to have the most positive impact on customers' journey experience.

"We believe that this can only be achieved by identifying where our customers are expecting improvement, and targeting these areas with practical action plans and strategic developments."

First Great Western operates high-speed express trains from Paddington to South West England and South Wales, via Didcot Parkway, and also runs peak-hour trains on the Cotswold Line to Hereford, via Oxford, Charlbury and Kingham.