Statement re Senior Appointments

22 March 2005

                                FIRSTGROUP PLC                                 

                        SENIOR MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS                         

FirstGroup plc, the UK's largest surface public transport operator, today
announced the following senior management appointments:

Nicola Shaw is to join the Group's Executive Management team in May as Business
Change Director, reporting directly to Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive. Her role
will focus on the Group's bus operations. Nicola joins us from the Strategic
Rail Authority where she was Managing Director Operations.

Andrew Haines joins the company as Managing Director of the UK Rail Division,
replacing Jeremy Long who has announced that he intends to leave the Group to
pursue other interests. Andrew joins the Executive Management team from South
West Trains where he was Managing Director.

Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive said: 'I am delighted that Nicola is joining us.
She will further strengthen our Executive Management team and will focus on
quality and delivery for improved public transport across all FirstGroup's
operations.'

'I am very pleased to welcome Andrew to the Group. He is highly respected
across the transport sector and has a strong track record within the rail
industry. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Jeremy for his
contribution to the Group and wish him every success for the future.'

Notes to Editors:

Nicola Shaw has spent her whole career in the public transport industry, both
in the UK and overseas. She joins FirstGroup from her current position as
Managing Director, Operations at the Strategic Rail Authority. Her previous
employers have included ORR, Bechtel, Halcrow, the World Bank and London
Transport. She has degrees from Oxford University and the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.

Andrew Haines has spent his career in the railway industry, having joined
British Rail as a graduate manager in 1985 and worked in numerous front line
positions. At privatisation Andrew joined Railtrack where he achieved rapid
promotion before joining South West Trains in 1997. In January 1999 he was made
Operations Director and then became Managing Director of South West Trains in
September 2000.

Both Nicola Shaw and Andrew Haines will be members of the FirstGroup Executive
and Safety Management Boards.