Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your First Group shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the First Group offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of First Group at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a First Group? Wrong! If the First Group is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about First Group then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling First Group? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about First Group and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your First Group wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your First Group then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the First Group site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about First Group, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your First Group, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{{Infobox Company| company_name = FirstGroup plc| company_logo = | company_type = Public company ()| foundation = 1995| location = Aberdeen,
Scotland,
UK and [North America and Railfreight| products = First, [First ScotRail,
First Great Western, First Capital Connect, TransPennine Express,
First Student and
FirstGBRf.] (12 months to Mar 2007)| operating_income = 203.6m (12 months to Mar 2007)| net_income =| num_employees = 74,000 (approx)| parent =| subsid = UK Bus, UK Rail, First Student, First Transit and First Services| homepage = http://www.firstgroup.com/| footnotes =-->
FirstGroup plc () is a
Scotland transport company operating in the
United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and North America, with headquarters in
Aberdeen. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
Company
FirstGroup plc is Britain's largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus services. A fleet of nearly 9,000 buses carries some 2.9 million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities. FirstGroup also run passenger and freight rail services in the UK. Passenger rail franchises consist of First Great Western, First Capital Connect, First TransPennine Expres and
First ScotRail. They also operate Hull Trains, a non-franchised open access intercity passenger train service and provide rail freight services through FirstGBRf. First operates the Croydon Tramlink network carrying approximately 24 million passengers a year on behalf of Transport for London.
In North America, First Group has several divisions: First Student which runs school bus routes; First Transit which holds many city and county public transport contracts; and First Vehicle Services which maintains vehicles for many corporations, organisations and local governments, including the other First divisions.
Canada operations are provided through their First Canada subsidiary which operates school buses and fulfills public transport contracts.
FirstGroup has always had a consistent brand and most of the names of its operations begin with the word First, such as First ScotRail,
First Aberdeen, First Glasgow and First Bristol. The company has since removed all local branding for its local bus services - buses now simply carry the fleet name ‘First’ throughout the UK, although each company still operates independently. Its corporate colours are white, pink and blue, and many of its buses and trains are now liveried in these colours (though buses and trams operating
Transport for London-tendered services retain their traditional red livery as required by the operating licence agreements).
First own and operate the Aircoach service in Dublin, linking Dublin Airport with the Dublin southside suburbs as well as long distance runs to
Cork (city) and Belfast; as of 2007 this does not carry corporate branding.
British Rail Class 180 train stops at
Bath Spa railway station on its way to
London Paddington
History
The company was formed as
FirstBus in June 1995 through the merger of two bus companies, the
Badgerline Group (see
First Badgerline) and
GRT Limited (Grampian Regional Transport).
In 1998 the company was renamed First Group when the company moved into railways with the
privatisation of British Rail, gaining the
First Great Eastern government-granted monopoly, then purchasing Swindon based Great Western Trains, holders of the
First North Western and
First Great Western franchises. Soon after, they also began operating
London’s Tramlink system under franchise from
Transport for London.
During 2004, First were awarded the
First ScotRail franchise to run trains in
Scotland, in which it already operated the lion’s share of bus services, and took over the new TransPennine Express franchise. In addition, First Great Western run the
Heathrow Connect service in partnership with
BAA plc.
The
First North Western franchise, however, was lost to
Serco/
Nederlandse Spoorwegen in December 2004. First North Western’s services in northern England were combined with those previously run by Arriva Trains Northern (and not part of the Transpennine network) to form the new
Northern Rail franchise.
First have also lost
First Great Eastern to National Express Group who operate it along with
Anglia Railways and
wagn, as 'one'. In fact, they were banned from bidding for the franchise, despite being named Train Operator of the Year at the time.
From 1st April 2006 First has operated a new rail franchise under the brand
First Capital Connect. This comprises the amalgamation of the existing Great Northern line of the former wagn service and the
Thameslink line.
The Great Western franchise was extended in 2006 to also include the services of the former
Wessex Trains and
Thames Trains, and this new franchise was again awarded to First.
New World First Bus (NWFB) of Hong Kong was jointly established and owned by the group and
NWS Holdings Limited since 1998 . The brand new company had successfully won the tender of 88
Hong Kong Island routes formerly operated by
China Motor Bus. In late 2000, the group sold all 26% of NWFB stocks to NWS Holdings.
In February 2007, FirstGroup agreed to buy the U.S.-based firm
Laidlaw, an operator of inter-city coaches and
yellow school buses across North America, for £1.9 billion (US$3.7 billion). This also gives them a controlling stake in Greyhound Lines, the largest bus operator in North America.
As of October 1, 2007 Firstgroup earned the rights to buy Laidlaw to become the largest school bus company in America.
First also operate bus services in Germany and have a joint venture with Danish State Railways.
Controversy
Labour Problems
FirstGroup has encountered labour problems with its U.S. yellow school bus subsidiary, First Student. At FirstGroup's 2006 annual general meeting, more than one-fifth of shareholders supported a resolution calling on the company to adopt an enforceable workers' rights policy. Company Chairman Martin Gilbert later promised neutrality toward unions, a promise that has not been kept.
First Great Western Performance
FirstGroup has received large amounts of criticism over the operation of the Great Western franchise. First earned the title of worst rail operator of the year 2006 with 76.8 % of services within the London Thames valley area arriving late.
First also received extremely large criticism over problems of overcrowding as well as them cutting out services on already overcrowded routes with their timetable changes in December 06. These problems have earned them the nickname 'Worst Late Western'. More information can be found under First Great Western.
Operating companies
Rail services
train at Radley.
Bus and coach services
Fleet numbers
In 2003 First introduced the
SemaVoyager system of fleet numbers replacing local numbers. This was to makes things easier when buses are transferred between regional fleets.
Services formerly operated
References
See also
- National Rail
- Privatisation of British Rail
http://business.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1539682007
External links
- Corporate web site
- Aircoach web site
- York Aircoach web site
- First Group America
- First Bus Canada
- First Student (US) Website
- Driving Up Standards - Trade union website
{{Infobox Company| company_name = FirstGroup plc| company_logo = | company_type = Public company ()| foundation = 1995| location = Aberdeen, Scotland,
UK and [North America and Railfreight| products = First, [First ScotRail,
First Great Western,
First Capital Connect, TransPennine Express,
First Student and
FirstGBRf.] (12 months to Mar 2007)| operating_income = 203.6m (12 months to Mar 2007)| net_income =| num_employees = 74,000 (approx)| parent =| subsid = UK Bus, UK Rail, First Student, First Transit and First Services| homepage = http://www.firstgroup.com/| footnotes =-->
FirstGroup plc () is a Scotland
transport company operating in the
United Kingdom,
Republic of Ireland and
North America, with headquarters in Aberdeen. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the
FTSE 250 Index.
Company
FirstGroup plc is Britain's largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus services. A fleet of nearly 9,000 buses carries some 2.9 million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities. FirstGroup also run passenger and freight rail services in the UK. Passenger rail franchises consist of First Great Western, First Capital Connect, First TransPennine Expres and
First ScotRail. They also operate Hull Trains, a non-franchised open access intercity passenger train service and provide rail freight services through FirstGBRf. First operates the Croydon Tramlink network carrying approximately 24 million passengers a year on behalf of Transport for London.
In North America, First Group has several divisions: First Student which runs school bus routes; First Transit which holds many city and county public transport contracts; and First Vehicle Services which maintains vehicles for many corporations, organisations and local governments, including the other First divisions. Canada operations are provided through their First Canada subsidiary which operates school buses and fulfills public transport contracts.
FirstGroup has always had a consistent brand and most of the names of its operations begin with the word First, such as First ScotRail,
First Aberdeen,
First Glasgow and First Bristol. The company has since removed all local branding for its local bus services - buses now simply carry the fleet name ‘First’ throughout the UK, although each company still operates independently. Its corporate colours are white, pink and blue, and many of its buses and trains are now liveried in these colours (though buses and trams operating Transport for London-tendered services retain their traditional red livery as required by the operating licence agreements).
First own and operate the Aircoach service in
Dublin, linking
Dublin Airport with the Dublin southside suburbs as well as long distance runs to
Cork (city) and Belfast; as of 2007 this does not carry corporate branding.
British Rail Class 180 train stops at Bath Spa railway station on its way to
London Paddington
History
The company was formed as
FirstBus in June 1995 through the merger of two bus companies, the
Badgerline Group (see First Badgerline) and
GRT Limited (Grampian Regional Transport).
In 1998 the company was renamed First Group when the company moved into railways with the privatisation of
British Rail, gaining the
First Great Eastern government-granted monopoly, then purchasing Swindon based Great Western Trains, holders of the First North Western and First Great Western franchises. Soon after, they also began operating London’s
Tramlink system under franchise from
Transport for London.
During
2004, First were awarded the
First ScotRail franchise to run trains in Scotland, in which it already operated the lion’s share of bus services, and took over the new TransPennine Express franchise. In addition, First Great Western run the
Heathrow Connect service in partnership with
BAA plc.
The First North Western franchise, however, was lost to Serco/
Nederlandse Spoorwegen in December 2004. First North Western’s services in northern England were combined with those previously run by
Arriva Trains Northern (and not part of the Transpennine network) to form the new
Northern Rail franchise.
First have also lost
First Great Eastern to National Express Group who operate it along with
Anglia Railways and wagn, as 'one'. In fact, they were banned from bidding for the franchise, despite being named
Train Operator of the Year at the time.
From 1st April 2006 First has operated a new rail franchise under the brand
First Capital Connect. This comprises the amalgamation of the existing Great Northern line of the former
wagn service and the Thameslink line.
The Great Western franchise was extended in 2006 to also include the services of the former
Wessex Trains and Thames Trains, and this new franchise was again awarded to First.
New World First Bus (NWFB) of Hong Kong was jointly established and owned by the group and
NWS Holdings Limited since 1998 . The brand new company had successfully won the tender of 88 Hong Kong Island routes formerly operated by China Motor Bus. In late
2000, the group sold all 26% of NWFB stocks to NWS Holdings.
In February 2007, FirstGroup agreed to buy the U.S.-based firm Laidlaw, an operator of inter-city coaches and
yellow school buses across North America, for £1.9 billion (US$3.7 billion). This also gives them a controlling stake in Greyhound Lines, the largest bus operator in North America.
As of October 1, 2007 Firstgroup earned the rights to buy Laidlaw to become the largest school bus company in America.
First also operate bus services in Germany and have a joint venture with Danish State Railways.
Controversy
Labour Problems
FirstGroup has encountered labour problems with its U.S. yellow school bus subsidiary, First Student. At FirstGroup's 2006 annual general meeting, more than one-fifth of shareholders supported a resolution calling on the company to adopt an enforceable workers' rights policy. Company Chairman Martin Gilbert later promised neutrality toward unions, a promise that has not been kept.
First Great Western Performance
FirstGroup has received large amounts of criticism over the operation of the Great Western franchise. First earned the title of worst rail operator of the year 2006 with 76.8 % of services within the London Thames valley area arriving late.
First also received extremely large criticism over problems of overcrowding as well as them cutting out services on already overcrowded routes with their timetable changes in December 06. These problems have earned them the nickname 'Worst Late Western'. More information can be found under First Great Western.
Operating companies
Rail services
train at Radley.
Bus and coach services
Fleet numbers
In 2003 First introduced the
SemaVoyager system of fleet numbers replacing local numbers. This was to makes things easier when buses are transferred between regional fleets.
Services formerly operated
- First Great Eastern (until April 2004, now operated by National Express Group as part of 'one')
- First North Western (until December 2004, services now operated by Northern Rail, TransPennine Express, Arriva Trains Wales and Virgin Trains.)
References
See also
- National Rail
- Privatisation of British Rail
http://business.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1539682007
External links
- Corporate web site
- Aircoach web site
- York Aircoach web site
- First Group America
- First Bus Canada
- First Student (US) Website
- Driving Up Standards - Trade union website
