First Great Western will run 17 daily services to London

It comes after Virgin Trains proposed cuts on the north-south routes through the county in January.

There was anger and disbelief among rail passengers in Gloucester when Virgin Cross Country said it was axing 95% of its services through the city following network cuts.

At present 20 Virgin services operate in and out of Gloucester Railway Station every day.

From September there will be just one train running between Bristol and the north.

Gloucester County Council claims the changes are illegal and has lobbied the government to prevent them.

The Strategic Rail Authority said other companies would fill the void left by Virgin to ensure Gloucester remained a vital hub in the national rail network.

On Tuesday, First Great Western announced it is to increase its weekday services.

From 19 May, 17 direct trains, instead of the current 10, will run between Gloucester and London, calling at Cheltenham Spa, Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse and Swindon.

First Great Western says it will mean an extra 2,000 Intercity seats available to and from London each weekday.