Statement re ScotRail Franchise

FirstGroup plc                                 

                        Statement re ScotRail Franchise                        

FirstGroup plc today welcomed the Competition Commission's provisional findings
which would enable the Company to continue its bid for the new ScotRail
franchise without any divestment of Scottish bus operations.

First has only just seen the Commission's draft and complex provisional
findings and possible remedies and will wish to study them in detail before
commenting further. However, we are encouraged that Prof Geroski has indicated
that the remedies are most likely to be behavioural rather than structural in
nature

First has already offered the Commission a number of undertakings and has a
meeting scheduled with them to discuss possible remedies further. First hopes
that the Company will be able to engage constructively with the Commission to
find a workable solution.

Contact:

Michael Mitchell, Corporate Communications Director Tel: [phone]

Martin Helm, Public Relations Adviser, on 020 7291 0507

28 April 2004