First on the road to good results

FIRSTGROUP, the owner of FirstScotrail, says it is on track to deliver full-year results in line with expectations.

The Scottish firm said its rail division had performed strongly in the year ending March 31, with passenger revenue growth set to exceed ten per cent.

In its bus division, which runs a number of services into and around the Capital, passenger revenue growth is expected to be around five per cent. It also said that the integration of the Laidlaw "yellow bus" company in North America had been making "excellent progress".

The group says it is on track to deliver £29 million of improvements to its First Great Western service.

The Aberdeen-based firm was forced by the Government into moves to increase capacity and fund cheaper tickets on the line.