Shortlisted for Greater Anglia rail franchise

24th March 2011

Stagecoach Group shortlisted for Greater Anglia rail franchise

Stagecoach Group plc ("Stagecoach") is pleased to confirm that it has been shortlisted by the Department for Transport ("DfT") to bid for the Greater Anglia passenger rail franchise.

The Greater Anglia passenger rail franchise provides local, suburban and express train services from London Liverpool Street to north and east Greater London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. It is expected to be a short-term contract lasting from February 2012 to at

least the summer of 2013.

A Stagecoach Group spokesman said: "We are pleased to have been successful in being short-listed for the Greater Anglia rail franchise. We now look forward to receiving the DfT's final and detailed Invitation to Tender document, which will confirm the Government's key requirements for the

franchise."

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Steven Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications Stagecoach Group

Tel: 01738 442111

Email: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Stagecoach Group

Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs around 35,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.

Stagecoach operates the South Western rail franchise, which includes the South West Trains and Island Line networks. South West Trains, the UK's biggest commuter rail network, runs nearly 1700 trains a day in the south-west of England out of London Waterloo. Island Line, on the Isle of Wight, has been designated a Community Rail Partnership.

In addition, Stagecoach runs the East Midlands rail franchise. East Midlands Trains operates high-speed long distance services from London St. Pancras to Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham, Liverpool - Norwich and regional services throughout Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.

Stagecoach also has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group, which operates the West Coast inter-city rail franchise.

In addition, Stagecoach is Britain's biggest tram operator, running networks in both Sheffield and Manchester.