Transaction in Own Shares

18 January 2006

                                FirstGroup plc                                 

                      Buyback of 424,435 ordinary shares                       

FirstGroup plc ('the Company') announces that on 18 January 2006 it purchased
424,435 ordinary shares of 5p each at an average price of 404.1051 pence per
share. The highest price paid was 408.25 pence per share. The lowest price paid
was 400.25 pence per share.

The Company intends to hold these shares in treasury.

Following the purchase of these shares, the Company holds 7,554,775 of its
shares in treasury and has 398,751,321 shares in issue (including treasury
shares).