Go-Ahead profits steam ahead after rise in passenger numbers
EasyJet's results showed Europe loves a budget trip abroad, but bus and train operator Go-Ahead is proving Brits still love a staycation.
The Newcastle-based group's pre-tax profit rose 44 per cent, to £91.2m, the highest (unadjusted) figure since 2008.
This means earnings per share were up too, to the tune of 26.4 per cent, to 148.6p.
This year the FTSE 250 travel operator won several franchises, adding Thameslink, southern and Great Northern to the inventory.
David Brown, chief executive:
Both our bus and rail divisions performed well. Record numbers of passengers travelled on our services. Our deregulated bus division achieved a sector leading customer satisfaction score of 92 per cent.
Another key achievement in the year was winning the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise on the basis of both quality for the passenger and value for money to the taxpayer.
We are also pleased to be on the shortlists for the Department for Transport's Northern and TransPennine rail franchise competitions and we look forward to submitting strong bids, working collaboratively with industry partners.