AN announcement is expected today from the Government confirming Rail operator First Great Western will be able to provide extra trains in an attempt to ease overcrowding.

The Department for Transport is expected to make an announcement confirming the provision of extra trains and coaches to tackle the problem in the Thames Valley.

The department and First Great Western declined to comment ahead of today’s expected announcement.

But the deal is likely to bring 1,200 extra seats for services between Oxford and London during peak-time morning and evening journeys.

Stanley Skoglund, 44, who works in financial services and commutes to London from Oxford, is a spokesman for passenger campaign group Ox Rail Action. He said: “This would be very welcome. First Great Western runs some of the most overcrowded trains in the country.”

The investment will include the return of five Class 180 Adelante 125mph express trains to replace most Turbo-operated weekday services on the Cotswold Line, and between Oxford and Paddington.

Two three-coach Class 150 trains are also coming from the West Midlands to operate Reading to Basingstoke shuttle services.

The arrival of these trains will release five or six Turbo trains each day to be used to provide extra coaches on services in the Oxford-Didcot-Reading-London corridor. About 18 High Speed Trains will also each get an extra coach, to give about 80 extra standard class seats per train on many services between Oxford and London, on the Cotswold Line and on services calling at Didcot en route between London, Swindon, Bristol and South Wales.

The trains will be phased in from the start of next year.

It was confirmed in August that overcrowding on rush-hour trains between Oxfordshire and London Paddington had been getting worse.

All 10 of the most overcrowded peak trains in and out of London’s major stations last autumn were First Great Western Paddington services.