FirstGroup plc

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FirstGroup plc (LSE: [FGP]) is a British transport company operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland and North America, with headquarters in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Contents

1 Company
2 History
3 Operating Companies

3.1 Rail Services
3.2 Bus and Coach Services
3.3 Services formerly operated

4 See also
5 External links

Company

Livery of First Group vehicles shown on a bus in Bristol

First Group has a very strong brand and most of the names of its operations begin with the word First, such as First Great Western, First Badgerline, First Eastern National and First Thamesway. First has since removed all local branding for its local bus services - buses now simply carry the fleet name ‘First’ throughout the UK. Its corporate colours are white, pink and blue, and many of its buses and trains are now liveried in these colours (though buses and trams in London retain their traditional red livery).

First own and operate the Aircoach service in Dublin, linking Dublin Airport with the Dublin southside suburbs as well as long distance runs to Cork and Belfast. First have also recently opened Quick Park, a long stay car park at Dublin Airport, considerably undercutting Aer Rianta on price.

In North America First Group has three divisions: First Student which runs school bus routes; First Transit which holds many city and county public transport contracts; and First Vehicle Services which maintains vehicles for many corporations, organisations and local governments, including the other First divisions.

Private Eye magazine frequently refers to the company as "WorstGroup" in its "Signal Failures" column.

There are also several groups in existence in parts of the country that are campaigning against First Group's consistent cuts in bus services and fare rises over the past year, particularly We Want Our Buses Back in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

A First Great Western Class 180 Adelante train stops at Bath Spa on its way to London Paddington

History

The company was formed as FirstBus in June 1995 through the merger of two bus companies, Badgerline (see First Badgerline) and GRT Bus. In 1998 the company was renamed First Group when the company moved into railways with the privatisation of British Rail. Soon after, they began operating London’s Tramlink system.

During 2004, First were awarded the ScotRail franchise to run trains in Scotland, in which it already operated the lion’s share of bus services, and took over the new TransPennine Express franchise. In addition, First Great Western run the Heathrow Connect service in partnership with the BAA.

The First North Western franchise, however, was lost to Serco/NedRailways in December 2004. First North Western’s services were combined with those previously run by Arriva Trains Northern to form the new Northern Rail.

First have also lost First Great Eastern to National Express Group who operate it along with Anglia Railways and WAGN, as One Railway. In fact, they were banned from bidding for the franchise, despite being named Train Operator of the Year at the time.

From 1st April 2006 First has operated a new rail franchise under the brand First Capital Connect. This comprises of the amalgamation of the existing Great Northern line of the former wagn service and the Thameslink line.

New World First Bus (NWFB) of Hong Kong was jointly established and owned by the group and NWS Holdings Limited since 1998. The brand new company had successfully won the tender of 88 Hong Kong Island routes formerly operated by China Motor Bus. In late 2000, the group sold all 26% of NWFB stocks to NWS Holdings.

Operating Companies

Rail Services

Bus and Coach Services

First Student (School Bus Transportation in the US)
First Glasgow
First Aberdeen
First Edinburgh
First Pennine
First Leeds
First York
First Bradford
First Halifax & Huddersfield
First Manchester
First South Yorkshire
First Staffordshire & North Cheshire
First Chester & The Wirral
First Leicester
First Northampton
First East Anglia
First Worcestershire & Herefordshire
First Cymru
First Berkshire & Thames Valley
First Somerset & Avon
First Essex
First London & South East
First Cityline (Bristol & Bath)
First Hampshire & Dorset
First Devon & Cornwall
New World First Bus (Hong Kong)

Services formerly operated

First Great Eastern (until April 2004, now operated by National Express Group as part of One Railway)
First North Western

External links

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