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The UK's least popular train service, First Great Western, has agreed to spend £29 million on improving its service after the government threatened to end its contract.

First Great Western (FGW), which was recently voted as the UK's worst service in a PassengerFocus survey, said the money will be used to increase rolling stock on its overcrowded Cardiff-Portsmouth service from May, increase passenger compensation and provide more discounted tickets.

Trains will also be refurbished to a higher standard and customer information at stations will be improved.

The package was agreed following discussions between the Department for Transport (DfT) and FGW's owner, FirstGroup.

Transport secretary Ruth Kelly said: "The performance of First Great Western has fallen persistently short of customers' expectations and has been unacceptable to both passengers and government."

Failure to uphold the plan could lead to a termination of the franchise agreement, the government said.

The company has also promised to hire more drivers and guards to overcome the delays and cancellations which the service has become infamous for.

Chief executive Moir Lockhead said: "This additional investment of £29 million will directly benefit First Great Western (FGW) passengers and underpins our plans to improve the quality and reliability of services we provide."

Since FirstGroup took over the franchise two years ago, the company has invested more than £200 million in FGW.

But customers of the service, which also runs the London-Cardiff route, have complained of overcrowding, delays and expensive ticket prices.

Passengers have organised two "fare strikes" in the past year, with hundreds of commuters travelling without a ticket in protest.