Firstgroup shurgs off rail nationalisation with open access growth Transport and infrastructure Firstgroup shares soared more than eight per cent on Tuesday after the transport giant reported a bumper set of annual results. Profit came in ahead of expectations as management launched a £50m share buyback programme. Shares are now up close to a third this year to date. Also encouraging for investors was “further growth in [...]
Firstgroup: Profit at Avanti West Coast owner beats expectations Transport and infrastructure Transport giant Firstgroup has extended its share buyback program by £50m after annual revenue came in ahead of forecasts. The additional £50m buyback program follows Firstgroup’s return of £92m to shareholders in the 2025 financial year. The group also raised its dividend to 6.5p, up from 5.5p last year. The FTSE 250 company told markets [...]
Open access is ‘key priority,’ says Firstgroup boss Transport and infrastructure Firstgroup is pushing ahead with plans to expand its open access offering despite fears over a government clampdown. The transport giant on Monday announced it had leased five Class 222, six car diesel trains after signing an agreement with rolling stock firm Eversholt Rail. It intends for the 340-seat trains to be used on a [...]
Firstgroup’s rail division exceeds expectations April 15, 2025 Firstgroup’s rail business is trading ahead of expectations despite concerns surrounding the UK government’s wide-reaching railway network reforms. The London-listed firm said on Tuesday that fees from the Department for Transport (DfT)’s contracted train operators had proved higher than previously forecast. It has also seen “strong demand” for its open access offering, run by Lumo [...]
Firstgroup and Virgin push back against state clampdown on open-access rail firms January 20, 2025 Firstgroup and Virgin are combining to push back against a government clampdown on some of the last private train firms operating the UK’s railway tracks. So-called open access is a lesser-used model in which firms shoulder commercial risk but take the entire share of any profit. It is viewed as a success story by many [...]
Firstgroup re-enters London bus market with £90m acquisition December 10, 2024 Firstgroup said on Tuesday it had signed a £90m deal to take RATP London off the hands off its French owner.
Firstgroup expansion continues with Cheshire-based coach firm Lakeside October 25, 2024 Firstgroup has acquired coach operator Lakeside Group, as the FTSE 250 transport giant continues to expand across the country. Lakeside, which is based in Shropshire and Cheshire, provides bus and coach private hire services to schools and businesses. The company owns around 145 buses and coaches, with a small amount of revenue coming from tours [...]
What is driving Firstgroup’s returns against rival Mobico and Britain’s train operators? June 11, 2024 Investors in Firstgroup are set to rake in a bumper payout this year after profit surged. What's driving the growth?
Firstgroup: Booming rail and bus demand delivers windfall for shareholders June 11, 2024 Firstgroup dividends sit at 5.5p, a 45 per cent hike on full-year 2023 amid a surge in demand for rail and bus travel.
National Express owner Mobico set for FTSE 250 relegation after audit issues May 29, 2024 National Express owner Mobico Group could drop off the FTSE 250 after it was forced to delay publication of its full-year results twice amid audit issues.