Press Release - Rail Market Share
CONSULTANT CONFIRMS FIRST’S “LARGEST RAIL OPERATOR” CLAIM
FirstGroup’s claim that it will become the largest UK rail operator from April next year has been confirmed by consultant TAS, which regularly monitors market shares as part of its Rail Industry Monitor project. FirstGroup made the claim in response to the announcement in December that it had won the Greater Western and Thameslink/Great Northern franchises.
Rail Industry Monitor editor Chris Cheek said, “According to calculations based on 2004/05 data for the passenger rail franchises, First subsidiaries will operate 25.4% of timetabled train kilometres, and carry 23.2% of the passenger kilometres.”
The change will mean that National Express Group – currently Britain’s largest train operator – has lost the position for the first time since privatisation was completed in 1997.
“However, FirstGroup will not carry the most passenger journeys,” Cheek continued. “We estimate that the GOVIA joint venture between the Go-Ahead Group and Keolis will carry 24.6% of the passenger journeys on the South Eastern and South Central franchises.
The full details are contained in the table below:
|
|
Train Kilometres |
Passenger Kilometres |
Passenger Journeys |
|
Arriva |
4.0% |
2.0% |
1.8% |
|
FirstGroup |
25.4% |
23.2% |
21.8% |
|
Go-Ahead |
12.8% |
14.6% |
24.5% |
|
John Laing |
1.8% |
1.7% |
1.3% |
|
National Express Group |
22.1% |
21.8% |
22.4% |
|
Sea Containers |
4.0% |
9.4% |
1.5% |
|
Serco NedRail |
10.7% |
4.5% |
8.8% |
|
Stagecoach |
8.3% |
10.7% |
14.8% |
|
Virgin |
10.9% |
12.2% |
3.2% |
|
TOTALS |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |