UK bus and rail company profits up 9%

British bus and rail operator FirstGroup today hailed an “excellent” performance by its trains as it turned in a 9% rise in half-year profits to £62.1m (€89.9m).

The company said its rail division increased passenger income by 11% while reliability of its key Great Western franchise reached an average of 99.5% in the year to date – the highest level since the Hatfield crash.