FirstGroup operates rail and freight train services across the UK

The transport operator has won the tenders for the newly created Greater Western and Thameslink-Great Northern routes, worth �1bn a year.

On the Greater Western line, Cheltenham is to have a new forecourt, segregated taxi, bus and car area and refurbished ticket office and toilets.

Facilities at Gloucester are also being refurbished or redecorated.

Overall, there are plans to increase car and cycle parking, add more ticket machines, information points and CCTVs and improve signage.

Timetables will remain the same until December 2006, when there are proposals to introduce regular two-hourly off peak services between London and Cheltenham, with most journey times cut by up to 11 minutes.

And additional trains are planned between Gloucester and Worcester calling at Cheltenham and Ashchurch.