First Great Eastern operated all stops and limited stops services on the Great Eastern Main Line from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria, Southminster, Braintree, Colchester Town, Clacton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Harwich Town and Ipswich.

Prior to this arrangement, a Class 121 Bubble Car was hired from Silverlink.

In May 2001, First Great Eastern ordered 21 Class 360 Desiros with the first entering service in August 2003.

[4][full citation needed] First Great Eastern's fleet was maintained at Ilford depot.

[5][full citation needed] In December 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the Greater Anglia franchise to National Express, and the services operated by First Great Eastern were transferred to One (later National Express East Anglia) on 1 April 2004.