FirstGroup plc
TypePublic
ISINGB0003452173 Edit this on Wikidata
IndustryTransport
Founded1 April 1995
HeadquartersAberdeen, Scotland, UK
Area served
United Kingdom
Republic of Ireland
Key people
David Martin
(Interim Executive Chairman)
Graham Sutherland
(Chief Executive)
ProductsBus, coach, rail & tram
RevenueIncrease £4,591.1 million (2022)[1]
Decrease £122.8 million (2022)[1]
Increase £642.0 million (2022)[1]
Number of employees
53,323 (2022)[1]
SubsidiariesSee below
Websitewww.firstgroupplc.com

FirstGroup plc is a British multi-national transport group, which is based in Aberdeen in the north-east of Scotland.[2] The company operates transport services in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.[3]

The creation of what became FirstGroup is closely tied to the deregulation of bus services in the United Kingdom during the 1980s. During April 1995, two acquisitive private bus operators, Badgerline and GRT Bus Group, merged together to create FirstBus. The new company initially operated a fleet of 5,600 buses to provide services to numerous regions across England, Wales and Scotland. Throughout the late 1990s, FirstBus continued its policy of growth by acquisition. To this end, it acquired several former council owned operations and companies formerly owned by English, Welsh and Scottish nationalised operators.

During December 1997, the company was renamed FirstGroup to reflect its recent entry into Britain's recently privatised railways. Around this time, it had a 24.5% shareholding in Great Western Holdings that was awarded the Great Western and North Western franchises, as well as a 100% shareholding in First Great Eastern. FirstGroup made its first overseas foray in September 1998 via a 26% shareholding in the joint venture New World First Bus that provided bus services in Hong Kong. In September 1999, FirstGroup purchased the American company Ryder Public Transport Services.[4] During May 2000, it began operating the London Tramlink concession. During August 2003, FirstGroup purchased GB Railways, which owned Anglia Railways and GB Railfreight and held 80% of the shares in Hull Trains.

In February 2007, FirstGroup agreed to buy the US-based bus operator Laidlaw, along with a controlling stake in Greyhound Lines, the largest bus operator in North America. During June 2009, FirstGroup made a unsuccessful takeover bid for rival transport operator National Express. In June 2010, FirstGroup sold its rail freight business First GBRf to the Eurotunnel Group, exiting the rail freight sector as a result. During October 2016, First Transit commenced operating the A-train, its first rail operation in the United States. In August 2017, FirstGroup's joint venture with MTR Corporation commenced operating the South Western franchise. In May 2020, FirstGroup announced it would retain its UK bus operations and sell off its activities in North America. During June 2022, FirstGroup rejected a £1.2bn takeover offer from US private equity company I Squared Capital.

History

Origins and early acquisitions

First Glasgow Wright Streetlite in February 2020

FirstGroup originated within the deregulation of bus services in the United Kingdom in 1986, whereby private companies purchased nationalised and municipal bus operators.[5] During September 1986, the Somerset based services of the Bristol Omnibus Company that were rebranded in 1985 as Badgerline were purchased in a management buyout. As Badgerline Group, it expanded through acquisition purchasing other formerly nationalised bus companies in England and Wales.[6]

In January 1989, Grampian Regional Transport, the bus operator in Aberdeen owned by Grampian Regional Council, was privatised in a management buyout led by its then general manager, Moir Lockhead.[7] As GRT Bus Group, it expanded through acquisition purchasing six former nationalised bus companies in England and Scotland.[8] During April 1995, FirstBus was formed through the merger of the Badgerline and GRT Bus Groups, with fleets in England, Wales and Scotland. The former King Street Barracks site in Aberdeen was selected as the headquarters.[9] At the time of the merger, FirstBus had 5,600 buses, 4,000 of which came from Badgerline.[8] Badgerline's Trevor Smallwood became chairman of FirstBus, while GRT head Moir Lockhead became deputy chairman and chief executive.[8]

Throughout the late 1990s, FirstBus continued its policy of growth by acquisition. To this end, it acquired several former council owned operations and companies formerly owned by English, Welsh and Scottish nationalised operators. FirstBus went on to acquire larger urban metropolitan operators by taking advantage of the privatisation of the PTE bus operations and the privatisation of London bus services. FirstBus acquired GM Buses North in Manchester and Strathclyde Buses in Glasgow in 1996, Mainline in South Yorkshire and CentreWest in London in 1997, and Capital Citybus in London in 1998.[8]

FirstGroup and expansion

A line-up of First Great Western trains at Plymouth in October 2009

During December 1997, the company was renamed FirstGroup;[2] this change was due to the company's entry in February 1996 into Britain's recently privatised railways, having a 24.5% shareholding in Great Western Holdings that won the Great Western and North Western franchises, and a 100% shareholding in First Great Eastern that ran the Great Eastern franchise from January 1997. In March 1998, FirstGroup purchased the 75.5% shares in Great Western Holdings that it did not already own and rebranded the franchises First Great Western and First North Western.[10][11][12]

In September 1998, FirstGroup made its first overseas foray when New World First Bus commenced operating bus services in Hong Kong formerly operated by China Motor Bus; the company held a 26% shareholding in the joint venture.[13] During May 2000, FirstGroup sold its shares to joint venture partner New World Development.[14] In September 1999, FirstGroup purchased Ryder Public Transport Services, a provider of school bus and contracted public bus transportation in the United States.[15] In May 2000, FirstGroup began operating the London Tramlink concession under contract to Transport for London.[16]

First Great Eastern Class 312 at Kirby Cross in March 2004

During August 2003, FirstGroup purchased GB Railways, which owned Anglia Railways and GB Railfreight and held 80% of the shares in Hull Trains.[17] Having not been shortlisted for the Greater Anglia franchise, this outcome gave FirstGroup another chance to bid. However, it too was unsuccessful and the franchise was awarded to the rival transport company National Express from April 2004, including the services operated by First Great Eastern.[18] In November 2003, FirstGroup purchased a 90% shareholding in Irish coach operator Aircoach.[19]

In February 2004, FirstGroup's joint venture with Keolis commenced operating the First TransPennine Express rail franchise, FirstGroup having a 55% shareholding in the venture.[20][21] During April 2004, FirstGroup commenced operating the First Great Western Link franchise,[22] it also commenced the First ScotRail franchise in October 2004.[23] In December 2004, the remainder of First North Western passed to Northern Rail, some services having already been transferred to Arriva Trains Wales and FirstTranspennine Express.[24]

During April 2006, FirstGroup commenced operating the First Capital Connect franchise[25] and a renewed First Great Western franchise that had been expanded to include the Thames Trains and Wessex Trains franchises.[26][27]

Greyhound Prevost coach at Toronto Coach Terminal in April 2009

In February 2007, FirstGroup agreed to buy the US-based firm Laidlaw, an operator of inter-city coaches and yellow school buses across North America, in exchange for £1.9 billion (US$3.7 billion). This also gave it a controlling stake in Greyhound Lines, the largest bus operator in North America. The Greyhound name and the names of Canadian subsidiaries of Greyhound Canada were retained, and all other Laidlaw-owned services in the United States and Canada were rebranded under the First or Greyhound names, except for Voyageur Colonial and Grey Goose in Canada.[28]

In January 2009, DSBFirst, FirstGroup's joint venture with Danish State Railways commenced operating the Oresundtrain rail franchise from Helsingør and Nivå in Denmark along the Kystbanen line and over the Øresund Bridge to Malmö, Växjö, Kalmar, Karlskrona and Gothenburg in Sweden. FirstGroup had a 25% shareholding in the Danish business and 20% in the Swedish business.[29] By March 2011, this shareholding had increased to 30%.[30]

During June 2009, FirstGroup made a takeover offer for fellow transport operator National Express, which was struggling with debt at the time and was struggling to hold onto its National Express East Coast rail franchise.[31][32] This offer was rejected; a National Express spokesperson stated that it did not "consider it appropriate" at the time to discuss a takeover. FirstGroup believed that there was "significant industrial and commercial logic" for a merger, but National Express wished to focus on its own initiatives.[33]

2010s

In June 2010, FirstGroup sold its railfreight business First GBRf to the Eurotunnel Group in exchange for £31 million,[34][35] ending the group's involvement in rail freight transport.[36] In September 2010, former London Underground managing director Tim O'Toole, already a board member since May 2009 and chief operating officer and Deputy Chief Executive since June 2010, was announced as the successor to retiring group chief executive officer Moir Lockhead with effect from 31 March 2011.[37][38]

During September 2011, FirstGroup's German bus operations were sold to Marwyn European Transport.[39] In December 2011, DSBFirst ceased operating the Swedish part of the operation after difficulties encountered by Danish State Railways over cross subsidies.[40][41][42]

In July 2012, First Travel Solutions provided bus and coach services for the London 2012 Olympic Games as First Games Transport. This involved the provision of venue shuttle and park and ride services, services connecting the peripheral park and ride sites on the M25 with the Olympic Park and Ebbsfleet, and a nationwide network of express coaches to the Olympic Park and the Weymouth and Portland sailing venue. These services required around 900 vehicles in total, although some were sub-contracted.[43] During June 2013, most of the First London bus operations were sold to Go-Ahead London, Metroline and Tower Transit.[44]

In April 2015, FirstGroup was unsuccessful in bidding for the ScotRail franchise, which was run by Abellio ScotRail until the end of that franchise in March 2022. During December 2015, FirstGroup was awarded the next TransPennine Express franchise.[45] The new franchise commenced on 1 April 2016 with a commitment to introduce new trains, routes and faster journey times.[45][46]

During October 2016, First Transit commenced operating the A-train under contract to the Denton County Transportation Authority, its first rail operation in the United States.[47][48] In August 2017, FirstGroup's joint venture with MTR Corporation commenced operating the South Western franchise, the company holding a 70% shareholding in South Western Railway.[49][50]

In May 2019, FirstGroup announced its intention to sell its UK bus operations and that its US activities were to receive greater attention in the future.[51] However, the only sales completed were parts of First Greater Manchester to the Go-Ahead Group and Rotala.[52][53]

2020s

In May 2020, FirstGroup announced it has effectively reversed its previous strategy, opting to retain its UK bus operations and instead sell its assets in North America.[54] In April 2021, FirstGroup agreed terms to sell the First Student and First Transit businesses to EQT Partners; the sale completed later in 2021.[55][56][57]

During October 2021, FirstGroup announced the sale of Greyhound Lines to FlixMobility, completing its stated divestments to focus on its core UK public transport businesses.[58] In October 2021, the open-access operator Lumo commenced operating services on the East Coast Main Line.[59][60]

In June 2022, FirstGroup's board unanimously rejected a £1.2bn takeover proposal from US private equity firm I Squared Capital; a spokesperson stated that the offer had undervalued the company.[61][62] While talks between the two companies continued for a further two months,[63] I Squared ultimately called off its efforts in August 2022.[64]

In February 2023, FirstGroup announced that subject to regulatory approval, it would purchase both the bus services and bus dealer operations of Purfleet-based Ensignbus.[65][66]

Operations

Hull Trains Class 802 Paragon at London King's Cross in February 2020

FirstGroup is Britain's largest bus operator, running more than 20% of all local bus services. A fleet of nearly 9,000 buses carries some 2.9 million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities. FirstGroup also runs passenger rail services in the UK. Passenger rail franchises consist of Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway and South Western Railway. It also runs two non-franchised open access passenger operations - Hull Trains and Lumo. FirstGroup operates tram services on the London Tramlink network carrying approximately 24 million passengers per year on behalf of Transport for London.[67]

FirstGroup owns and operates the Aircoach service in Dublin, linking Dublin Airport with the city centre, the south side of Dublin, Greystones and Bray as well as long-distance express services runs to Cork and Belfast.[68]

Corporate branding and liveries

Marshall bodied Dennis Dart in Bromborough in March 2007 in the original "Barbie 2" livery
First bus in corporate livery in Bishops Lydeard in 2014

FirstGroup has always had a consistent brand and uses the First brand for most of its operations. FirstBus began to apply a standard corporate typeface to its fleet names in the late 1990s, introducing the stylized f logo depicting a road. A corporate white, pink and blue livery nicknamed "Barbie" was introduced to new buses, while further bus company acquisitions continued. Inherited bus fleets were initially left in their original colours with First fleet names, with the intention that the Barbie scheme would stand for a set service quality. Later older buses received a modified "Barbie 2" livery.[69]

As part of its corporate branding, First subsequently removed all local branding for its bus services, buses simply carried the 'First' brand, although each company still operated independently. In 2012, the group began to introduce a new purple, white and lilac livery to its bus fleets, which also reinstated local branding.[70][71] In January 2014, the company rebranded its First Somerset & Avon operations in Bridgwater and Taunton as The Buses of Somerset, using a two-tone green livery.[72][73]

Hull Trains carries a predominantly blue livery, including white, pink and purple. This was also used by First Great Western until 20 September 2015, when the franchise was rebranded as Great Western Railway, with a new logo and dark green livery paying homage to the original Great Western Railway.[74]

London Tramlink operations are painted in white, green and blue as per Transport for London requirements. In Scotland, First ScotRail operated with a blue livery with white saltire markings on the carriage ends, as mandated by the Scottish Government's transport agency Transport Scotland.[75]

Current operating businesses

Current operating businesses include:[76]

First Bus

In September 2022 First Bus was reorganised as follows:[77][78]

United Kingdom

Buses of Somerset liveried Alexander Dennis Enviro200 44079 in Ruishton in July 2021
Scotland
  • First Aberdeen (formerly First Grampian)
  • First Aberdeen Coach Hire (formerly Grampian Executive)
  • First Glasgow (formerly First Kelvin and First Greater Glasgow)
East of England
Manchester, Midlands and South Yorkshire
First Potteries Scania Omnicity in Stoke on Trent (January 2020)
North and West Yorkshire
South and South West England
Wales and West of England
Other operations
Ireland
Aircoach Jonckheere SHV bodied Volvo with destination of Greystones in Shankill

First Rail

United Kingdom

TransPennine Express Class 802 'Nova 1' at Newcastle in September 2020

Former operating companies

FirstGroup Rhein-Neckar Mercedes-Benz Citaro in Mannheim in August 2008

Bus and coach

Canada

Germany

  • FirstGroup Rhein-Neckar sold September 2011 to Marwyn European Transport[80][81]

Hong Kong

United Kingdom

United States

  • Greyhound Lines (intercity bus services)[58]
  • First Student, a school transport provider[85]
  • First Transit, a city and county public transport provider[86]
  • First Vehicle Services, which maintained vehicles for many corporations, organizations and local governments, including the other First divisions.

Rail

United Kingdom

United States

Denmark and Sweden

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Annual Report and Accounts 2022" (PDF). FirstGroup. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 Companies House extract company no SC157176 FirstGroup plc
  3. ↑ "FirstGroup plc Ord 5p". London Stock Exchange. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012.
  4. ↑ "FirstGroup to Buy Ryder Unit". Europolitics. 8 September 1999. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "RESEARCH PAPER 99/59" (PDF). parliament.uk/. 8 June 1999. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "The badger is back in the West of England". Passenger Transport. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Interview with Moir Lockhead". railwaypeople.com. 11 April 2006.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Men in lemon celebrate First's 20 years". Buses. No. 648. Ian Allan Publishing. March 2009.
  9. ↑ "Badgerline links with GRT". The Independent. 5 April 1995.
  10. ↑ "£75m of additional passenger benefits agreed with FirstGroup" (Press release). Department for Transport. 6 March 1998. Archived from the original on 6 February 2007.
  11. ↑ "Conditions met for FirstGroup takeover of Great Western" (Press release). Department for Transport. 30 March 1998. Archived from the original on 6 February 2007.
  12. ↑ "FirstGroup Annual Report 31 March 1999" (PDF). FirstGroup. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2009.
  13. ↑ UK bus operator wins £55m franchise The Independent 1 April 1998
  14. ↑ "Milestones 2000". NWS Holdings Limited.
  15. ↑ "FirstGroup to Buy Ryder Unit". Europolitics. 8 September 1999. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013.
  16. ↑ "Croydon Tramlink Light Rail Network". International Railway Journal. London. June 2000.
  17. ↑ "GB Rail Offer Unconditional". FirstGroup. 14 August 2003. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "National Express Group Announced as Preferred Bidder for new Greater Anglia Franchise" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2009.
  19. ↑ "Aircoach Announces 15m Euro Deal". aircoach.ie. 7 November 2003. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007.
  20. ↑ "SRA Announce Preferred Bidder for TransPennine Express Franchise" (PDF). Strategic Rail Authority. 28 July 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2013.
  21. ↑ "Keolis in the UK". Keolis SA. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Preferred Bidder Announced for New Thames Trains Franchise". Strategic Rail Authority. 4 November 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2003.
  23. ↑ "FirstGroup clinches Scottish rail franchise". The Daily Telegraph. 12 June 2004.
  24. ↑ "Serco joint venture selected as preferred bidder for Northern Rail train operating franchise" (PDF). Serco Group. 1 July 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2010.
  25. ↑ "Department for Transport Announces Winner of Thameslink/GN Franchise". Department for Transport. 13 December 2005. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007.
  26. ↑ "Greater Western Franchise". Department for Transport. 2 February 2006. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.
  27. ↑ "Wessex Train Company News". Tessa.
  28. ↑ "FirstGroup buys Greyhound buses". BBC News. 9 February 2007.
  29. ↑ "FirstGroup starts operations in Scandinavia". FirstGroup. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2009.
  30. ↑ "FirstGroup Annual Report and Accounts 2011" (PDF). FirstGroup. p. 92.
  31. ↑ "Q&A: National Express and East Coast line". BBC News. BBC. 1 July 2009. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  32. ↑ Milmo, Dan (1 July 2009). "£30bn shortfall threatens rail and road plans". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  33. ↑ "National Express turns down bid". BBC News. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
  34. ↑ "FirstGroup plc: Disposal of rail freight business" (Press release). FirstGroup. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
  35. ↑ Rose, Michael (1 June 2010). "Eurotunnel buys GBRf from FirstGroup". Reuters.
  36. ↑ "First GBRf bought by Eurotunnel". Railnews. Stevenage. 1 June 2010.
  37. ↑ Miles, Tony (November 2010). "O'Toole takes over from Lockhead at FirstGroup". Modern Railways. London. p. 7.
  38. ↑ Milmo, Dan (22 September 2010). "Tim O'Toole confirmed as new FirstGroup chief executive". The Guardian.
  39. ↑ "FirstGroup sells German bus unit". BBC News. 30 September 2011.
  40. ↑ "DSB CEO dismissed over accounting irregularities". Railway Gazette International. 1 April 2011.
  41. ↑ "Veolia takes over Öresund train services". thelocal.se. 28 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011.
  42. ↑ "Veolia takes over from troubled DSBFirst". Railway Gazette International. 28 June 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012.
  43. ↑ "Statement re Bus and Coach contract at London 2012 Games" (Press release). FirstGroup. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  44. ↑ "FirstGroup Announces Sale of Eight London Bus Depots". FirstGroup. 9 April 2013.
  45. 1 2 "Northern and TransPennine Express franchises awarded". Railway Gazette International. 9 December 2015.
  46. ↑ Clinnick, Richard (26 August 2019). "TPE's new trains". railmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  47. ↑ "FirstGroup signs first US rail commuter contract". FirstGroup. 20 July 2016.
  48. ↑ "FirstGroup awarded its first US rail contact". Railway Gazette International. 21 July 2016.
  49. ↑ "FirstGroup and MTR welcome South Western rail franchise award". London Stock Exchange. 27 March 2017. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018.
  50. ↑ Gerrard, Bradley (18 August 2017). "Rail fares set to be capped between London and Exeter". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  51. ↑ "FirstGroup confirms sale of UK bus division to focus on US business". The Guardian. 30 May 2019.
  52. ↑ "Go-Ahead agrees terms with FirstGroup to purchase Manchester bus depot". Go-Ahead Group. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  53. ↑ "DBNW Expanding | Diamond Bus". www.diamondbuses.com. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  54. ↑ "FirstGroup issues Winter 2020 trading statement as sell-off of US operations announced". Coach & Bus Week. No. 1436. 17 March 2020. p. 11.
  55. ↑ "FirstGroup to focus operations on the UK as First Student and First Transit sold". Coach & Bus Week. 23 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021.
  56. ↑ "FirstGroup Plans to Sell First Student, First Transit for $4.6 Billion". Metro. 23 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021.
  57. ↑ "Our history". www.firstgroupplc.com. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  58. 1 2 "Sale of Greyhound Lines, Inc". otp.tools.investis.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  59. ↑ "Applications for the East Coast Main Line" (PDF). Office of Rail & Road. 12 May 2016.
  60. ↑ Lam, Sophie (25 October 2021). "Low-cost electric rail operator Lumo launches between London and Edinburgh". The Independent.
  61. ↑ "FirstGroup rejects £1.2bn takeover approach from US suitor". BBC News. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  62. ↑ Williams, Holly (9 June 2022). "FirstGroup rebuffs £1.2bn takeover approach". The Independent.
  63. ↑ "FirstGroup Gets Further Takeover Talk Extension". scottishfinancialreview.com. 21 July 2022.
  64. ↑ "Private equity firm I Squared says it does not intend to make offer for FirstGroup". Reuters. 16 August 2022.
  65. ↑ Maatouk, Michele (8 February 2023). "FirstGroup to buy Essex-based bus Group Ensignbus". ShareCast. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  66. ↑ "FirstGroup agrees to purchase Ensignbus business". routeone. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  67. ↑ "Tramlink". Transport for London. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  68. ↑ "Aircoach". FirstGroup. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  69. ↑ "First Variation". April 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  70. ↑ "FirstGroup relaunches UK bus division with new local liveries". Passenger Transport. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  71. ↑ "New livery for First York buses". The Press. York. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  72. ↑ "First introduces The Buses of Somerset". Euro Transport. 30 January 2014.
  73. ↑ "First drops corporate look in Somerset". Bus & Coach Professional. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014.
  74. ↑ "First Great Western unveils rebranded Great Western Railway trains". BBC News. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  75. ↑ "ScotRail 25th Anniversary Publicity Materials". Transport Scotland. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010.
  76. ↑ "At a glance". FirstGroup. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  77. ↑ Hilson, Aaron (5 July 2022). "First Bus restructures as Government funding cuts loom in England". CBW.
  78. ↑ "A reverse move for First". busandtrainuser.com. 2 July 2022.
  79. ↑ "Vancouver Island Coachlines – Your Vancouver Island Transportation Solution". Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  80. ↑ "First moves in to Germany". Bus & Coach Professional. 23 May 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  81. ↑ "FirstGroup zieht sich aus Deutschland zurück" [FirstGroup withdraws from Germany]. OmnibusRevue (in German). 4 October 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  82. ↑ "First sells Scottish border services to West Coast Motors". Coach & Bus Week. 14 March 2017.
  83. ↑ "Sale of First Borders to West Coast Motors". First Group. 25 March 2017.
  84. ↑ "First Bus to close Southampton business in 2023". Route One. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  85. ↑ "First Student About Us". First Student.
  86. ↑ "First Transit About Us". First Transit.
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