Great Western Coffee Shop

Why not indeed? I have given it my best shot, but let's be clear on one thing :

FGW cant do it on their own. They will require help from the DfT, Network Rail and, quite possibly, local authorities as well.

What follows is a three-stage plan, inspired in large part by ideas from members of this forum. I have taken every factor that I know of into account, but there will undoubtably be things that I have missed. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you'd bear that in mind when reading it.

The plan is also dependent on FGW successfully resolving issues such as staffing and Swindon control.

STAGE ONE (December 2008-December 2010)

3 extra 2-coach Class 142 units (currently in storage) leased to bolster the capacity (and PR) gains made in Devon.

Key "Cross-Bristol" trains run using loco-hauled stock. This frees up units for use elsewhere, including a Class 153 unit for the extra Frome/TransWilts services contained in the link below. The loco-hauled services are gradually replaced by Class 150/1 units released by London Midland.
http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/jan08/salyeoswin2.xls

The proposed 40 minute frequency Severn Beach Line timetable is assumed to have been implemented in May 2008, as currently planned.

STAGE TWO (December 2010-Franchise End)

A radical overhaul of the franchise is implemented, as detailed in the link below.
http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/jan08/stage2.doc

STAGE THREE (Franchise End Or Life After FGW)

New rolling stock all round, with the "Cross-Bristol" specification based on the link below.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=357.msg1034#msg1034

Now, I'm not naive enough to think that all of the above could necessarily be implemented exactly as I have set it out, but I do think that something close to it could be acheivable.

Lee : In Excel, change a cell to 'text' and it will let you type '0800' for example, instead of O800 ;)