Transaction in Own Shares

16 December 2005

                                FirstGroup plc                                 

                      Buyback of 500,000 ordinary shares                       

FirstGroup plc ('the Company') announces that on 16 December 2005 it purchased
500,000 ordinary shares of 5p each at an average price of 385.9575 pence per
share. The highest price paid was 388.25 pence per share. The lowest price paid
was 381.75 pence per share

The Company intends to hold these shares in treasury.

Following the purchase of these shares, the Company holds 5,700,000 of its
shares in treasury and has 398,751,321 shares in issue (including treasury
shares).