Trading Statement

Tuesday 5 April 2005

                                FIRSTGROUP PLC                                 

                                TRADING UPDATE                                 

Ahead of a series of pre-close meetings with analysts to be held this week,
FirstGroup plc confirms that overall trading for the year to 31 March 2005 is
in line with its expectations.

In UK Bus, notwithstanding ongoing cost base pressures, performance is in line
with management expectations and the division has achieved encouraging revenue
growth. Our North American businesses continue to perform well and we are
particularly pleased by the growth in our Services division. In UK Rail a
strong performance has been achieved across all of our train operating
companies and we look forward to the next round of franchise bids. We are
already shortlisted for Integrated Kent and Docklands Light Railway and have
pre-qualified for Greater Western and Thameslink/Great Northern.

The Group will announce its results for the year to 31 March 2005 on Wednesday
11 May 2005.

Contacts:

Dean Finch, Group Finance Director Tel: [phone]

Rachael Borthwick, Head of Corporate Communications Tel: [phone]