FirstGroup plc is a British multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.[2] The company operates transport services in the United Kingdom and 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 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 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 an 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, which ended in 2025 following renationalisation. 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
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]
Operations
As of July 2025, FirstGroup runs two franchised and two non-franchised passenger rail services in the UK. Current franchised passenger rail operations include Avanti West Coast (70% ownership alongside Trenitalia's 30%) and Great Western Railway, however these will both be re-nationalised by October 2027 to form part of Great British Railways.[69]
FirstGroup also runs two non-franchised open access passenger operations from London Kings Cross– Hull Trains and Lumo. FirstGroup operates tram services within South London (Croydon, Wimbledon, Beckenham and Addingham) on the London Tramlink, network carrying approximately 24 million passengers per year on behalf of Transport for London.[70]
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
Corporate branding and liveries
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.[73]
As part of its corporate branding introduced in November 2001, First subsequently removed all local branding for its bus services, buses simply carried the 'First' brand, although each company still operated independently.[15] In 2012, the group began to introduce a new purple, white and lilac 'Olympia' livery to its bus fleets, which also reinstated local branding.[74][75] In January 2014, the company rebranded its First Somerset & Avon operations in Bridgwater and Taunton
Current operating businesses
Current operating businesses include:[83]
Former operating companies
Bus and coach
Canada
- Greyhound Canada (intercity bus services)
- Grey Goose Bus Lines
- Vancouver Island Coach Lines[89]
- Voyageur Colonial Bus Lines
- First Student (school, charter bus and public transit services)
- HandyDART Contract to TransLink (British Columbia) for accessible transit service in Metro Vancouver
Germany
External links
References
- Annual Report and Accounts 2025 FirstGroup, retrieved 28 January 2026^
- Companies House extract company no SC157176 FirstGroup plc^
- FirstGroup plc Ord 5p London Stock Exchange^