From the Save Severn Tunnel Website :

"FirstGroup was awarded the new Greater Western franchise by the Department for Transport just over a year ago in return paying the government around a £1 billion premium. On Friday 5 January 2007 FirstGroup chief executive, Moir Lockhead and FGW Managing Director, Alison Foster received a 'yellow card' warning from Department for Transport officials that unless services improve FirstGroup will lose the Greater Western franchise."

"BBC News Points West reported on Friday 5 December that 4 class 153 train units (single cars) are currently in "warm storage" at Eastleigh depot in Southampton although industry sources also confirm 3 class 158 train units (two or three cars) are stored at the depot, while a further class 158 (798) three car unit is stored at Reading. All units were in passenger service on the Greater Western franchise before 11 December 2006 and it is feared that further units will be withdrawn from passenger service to go into "warm storage" as FirstGroup struggle to meet the repayment terms of the franchise agreement."