Editing FirstGroup (section)

===FirstGroup and expansion===
[[File:Plymouth railway station (28976925648).jpg|thumb|A line-up of [[First Great Western]] trains at [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]] in 2018]]
During December 1997, the company was renamed ''FirstGroup.''<ref name=SC157176/> This change was due to the company's entry in February 1996 into Britain's [[privatisation of British Rail|recently privatised railways]], having a 24.5% shareholding in [[Great Western Holdings]] that won the [[Greater Western franchise|Great Western]] and [[First North Western|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]].<ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/1998/75millionofadditionalpasseng1212 |title = £75m of additional passenger benefits agreed with FirstGroup |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 6 March 1998 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070206063132/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/1998/75millionofadditionalpasseng1212 |archive-date = 6 February 2007 |df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/1998/conditionsmetforfirstgroupta1262 |title= Conditions met for FirstGroup takeover of Great Western |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 30 March 1998 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070206063115/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/1998/conditionsmetforfirstgroupta1262 |archive-date = 6 February 2007 |df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.firstgroup.com/assets/pdfs/investors/annual_reports/1999_annual_report.pdf |title = FirstGroup Annual Report 31 March 1999 |publisher = FirstGroup }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

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.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/uk-bus-operator-wins-pounds-55m-franchise-1153789.html UK bus operator wins £55m franchise] ''The Independent'' 1 April 1998</ref> During May 2000, FirstGroup sold its shares to joint venture partner [[New World Development]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.nws.com.hk/html/eng/about/milestones.aspx?hidden_params01=MHgMw6YMDDDVurs5kj5QvIObTrowNI6xoxUYvHvUQqs9Y9UFju3udQ6Gk6awBU2TKx7U8JF2asqvh9V6idzADg%3D%3D&hidden_params02=MHgMw6YMDDDVurs5kj5QvAdscwlD4S5Aei4keMyMuBTG6%2F6gJz9mt1%2FE51PrS8Ud&params01=MHgMw6YMDDDVurs5kj5QvIObTrowNI6xoxUYvHvUQqs9Y9UFju3udQ6Gk6awBU2TKx7U8JF2asqvh9V6idzADg%3D%3D&params02=MHgMw6YMDDDVurs5kj5QvAdscwlD4S5Aei4keMyMuBTG6%2F6gJz9mt1%2FE51PrS8Ud |title = Milestones 2000 |publisher = NWS Holdings Limited}}</ref> In September 1999, FirstGroup purchased [[Ryder System|Ryder]] Public Transport Services, a provider of school bus and contracted public bus transportation in the United States.<ref name="FirstGroup to Buy Ryder Unit"/> In May 2000, FirstGroup began operating the [[Tramlink|London Tramlink]] concession under contract to [[Transport for London]].<ref>{{cite news |url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQQ/is_6_40/ai_63674952 |title = Croydon Tramlink Light Rail Network |date = June 2000 |work = International Railway Journal |location = London}}</ref>

[[File:312718 and 312721 at Kirby Cross.JPG|thumb|[[First Great Eastern]] [[British Rail Class 312|Class 312]] at [[Kirby Cross railway station|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]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.firstgroup.com/latest_news/?id=003551 |title = GB Rail Offer Unconditional |publisher = FirstGroup |date = 14 August 2003 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20131004215148/http://www.firstgroup.com/latest_news/?id=003551 |archive-date = 4 October 2013 }}</ref> Having not been shortlisted for the [[East Anglia franchise|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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/2003a1/2003b/uncedpreferedbidderforne1217.pdf |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090825141633/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/2003a1/2003b/uncedpreferedbidderforne1217.pdf |url-status = dead |archive-date = 25 August 2009 |title = National Express Group Announced as Preferred Bidder for new Greater Anglia Franchise}}</ref> In November 2003, FirstGroup purchased a 90% shareholding in Irish coach operator [[Aircoach]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.aircoach.ie/news.article.php?ID=8 |title = Aircoach Announces 15m Euro Deal |publisher = aircoach.ie |date = 7 November 2003 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071118200825/http://aircoach.ie/news.article.php?ID=8 |archive-date = 18 November 2007 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://http%3a/www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/2003a1/2003b/nnouncepreferredbidderfo1524.pdf |title = SRA Announce Preferred Bidder for TransPennine Express Franchise |publisher = [[Strategic Rail Authority]] |date = 28 July 2003 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131215041124/http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090826025317/http%3A/www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/2003a1/2003b/nnouncepreferredbidderfo1524.pdf |archive-date = 15 December 2013 |access-date = 13 April 2024 |url-status = bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.keolis.com/en/business-activities/keolis-by-country/united-kingdom/impression.html?no_cache=1 |title = Keolis in the UK |publisher = Keolis SA |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140107221528/http://www.keolis.com/en/business-activities/keolis-by-country/united-kingdom/impression.html?no_cache=1 |archive-date = 7 January 2014 }}</ref> During April 2004, FirstGroup commenced operating the [[First Great Western Link]] franchise,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/20031104_preferred_bidder_announced_for_thames_franchise.tt2 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20031202235927/http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/20031104_preferred_bidder_announced_for_thames_franchise.tt2 |title = Preferred Bidder Announced for New Thames Trains Franchise |publisher = Strategic Rail Authority |date = 4 November 2003|archive-date=2 December 2003}}</ref> it also commenced the [[First ScotRail]] franchise in October 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2887785/FirstGroup-clinches-Scottish-rail-franchise.html |title = FirstGroup clinches Scottish rail franchise |publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date = 12 June 2004}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.serco.com/Images/010704NorthernRailFranchisePressRelease_tcm3-2158.pdf |title = Serco joint venture selected as preferred bidder for Northern Rail train operating franchise |publisher = Serco Group |date = 1 July 2004 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101127223255/http://serco.com/Images/010704NorthernRailFranchisePressRelease_tcm3-2158.pdf |archive-date = 27 November 2010 }}</ref>

During April 2006, FirstGroup commenced operating the [[First Capital Connect]] franchise<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070310142714/http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=181549&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False |title = Department for Transport Announces Winner of Thameslink/GN Franchise |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 13 December 2005|archive-date=10 March 2007}}</ref> and a renewed [[First Great Western]] franchise that had been expanded to include the [[First Great Western Link|Thames Trains]] and [[Wessex Trains]] franchises.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/greater-western-franchise/ |title = Greater Western Franchise |publisher = Department for Transport |date = 2 February 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120204190029/http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/greater-western-franchise/ |archive-date = 4 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tssa.org.uk/article-157.php3?id_article=2782 |title = Wessex Train Company News |publisher = Tessa |access-date = 15 July 2008 |archive-date = 11 October 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011112142/http://www.tssa.org.uk/article-157.php3?id_article=2782 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[File:Greyhound Lines 86025a.JPG|thumb|[[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]] [[Prevost Car|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 bus]]es across North America, in exchange for £1.9&nbsp;billion (US$3.7&nbsp;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 Bus Lines|Voyageur Colonial]] and [[Grey Goose Bus Lines|Grey Goose]] in Canada.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6345627.stm |title = FirstGroup buys Greyhound buses |work = BBC News |date = 9 February 2007}}</ref>

In January 2009, [[DSBFirst]], FirstGroup's joint venture with [[DSB (railway company)|Danish State Railways]] commenced operating the [[Oresundtrain]] rail franchise from [[Helsingør]] and [[Nivå]] in Denmark along the [[Coast Line (Denmark)|Kystbanen]] line and over the [[Øresund Bridge]] to [[Malmö Central Station|Malmö]], [[Växjö]], [[Kalmar]], [[Karlskrona]] and [[Gothenburg Central Station|Gothenburg]] in Sweden. FirstGroup had a 25% shareholding in the Danish business and 20% in the Swedish business.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/latest_news/?id=000481 |title = FirstGroup starts operations in Scandinavia |publisher = FirstGroup |date = 12 January 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090317214506/http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/latest_news/?id=000481 |archive-date = 17 March 2009 }}</ref> By March 2011, this shareholding had increased to 30%.<ref name=AnnualReport2011>{{cite web |url = http://www.firstgroupplc.com/~/media/Files/F/Firstgroup-Plc/reports-and-presentations/reports/new/2011_annual_report.pdf |title = FirstGroup Annual Report and Accounts 2011 |website = FirstGroup |page = 92}}</ref>

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.<ref name="BBC8128430">{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8128430.stm |title = Q&A: National Express and East Coast line |date = 1 July 2009 |access-date = 1 July 2009 |work = BBC News |publisher = BBC |archive-date = 30 November 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201130005414/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8128430.stm |url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last = Milmo |first = Dan |date = 1 July 2009 |title = £30bn shortfall threatens rail and road plans |work = The Guardian |location = London |url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jul/01/transport-east-coast-mainline-nationalised |access-date = 1 July 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref name="NatExDeclinesBid">{{cite news |title = National Express turns down bid |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8123717.stm |work = BBC News |date = 29 June 2009 |access-date = 29 June 2009}}</ref>