Trading Statement

National Express Group PLC 18 December 2006 18 December 2006 National Express Group PLC Pre close trading update National Express Group ('the Group') reports on trading for the year to 31 December 2006, prior to entering its close period. We are pleased to report that the Group is trading ahead of our expectations. Alsa is trading well in its first full year as part of the Group. We have carried more passengers in our long distance coaching division and have been encouraged by the first use of promotional fares and the level of sales through the internet. Our urban division has grown with the regular award of new business throughout the year. It is clear that many growth opportunities exist within Alsa's core markets. Our trains division experienced an improved second half with strong passenger growth across our portfolio. Our operational performance continues to lead the industry with Midland Mainline and c2c holding the top positions in their respective industry league tables. We look forward to submitting our bids for the East Midlands and New Cross Country franchises in February and March 2007, respectively. Our coach division has again performed well. We have continued to invest in our core scheduled coaching network and in improving our customer facilities. The introduction of a wide range of yield managed fares has led to passenger growth of 5.5% in the second half of the year. In North America our student bus operation continued its progress and start-up of the new contracts went well. We are optimistic that recent growth rates can be maintained and anticipate another strong bid season. Over the past two weeks, we have been impacted by some severe weather across the Mid-West resulting in a number of days when schools were closed. As announced in September, we are in discussions relating to the sale of Stewart Airport in New York State. We expect to conclude these negotiations in the first quarter of next year. Our UK bus division has delivered in line with our expectations despite significant increases in fuel costs this year. We continue to work closely with Centro, Birmingham City Council and the seven district councils in the region to develop new ways of attracting passengers on to our buses in the West Midlands. We are pleased with the output from a number of joint initiatives in Coventry and there has been a welcome return to growth amongst our concessionary passengers. The Group is ending 2006 strongly and we are excited by the number of new opportunities that present themselves next year. Consequently, we remain confident about the Group's future growth prospects. The Group's preliminary results for the year ending 31 December 2006 will be announced on 1 March 2007. • There will be an analyst conference call at 0830 hours on Monday 18 December 2006 - further details are available from Katie Millett at Financial Dynamics on 020 7831 3113. For further information: Adam Walker/Nicola Marsden National Express Group PLC 020 7529 2000 Andrew Dowler/Ben Foster Financial Dynamics 020 7831 3113 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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