FIRMS interested in bidding to run the Great Western rail franchise from next year had until yesterday to lodge responses to a questionnaire from the Department for Transport.

The DfT will announce which firms have been shortlisted in April.

Current operator First Great Western is aiming to land a new deal to run the franchise, while others considering bids are: National Express; Spanish state rail firm Renfe; Deutsche Bahn, the German state rail company which already owns the county's two other rail operators Chiltern and CrossCountry; and Stagecoach, which operates many of Oxfordshire's bus services.