National Express Group PLC at a glance



Divisions	Services	Principal Brands	Continuing Operations	2000	1999
	High-frequency urban bus services operating primarily in Birmingham and across the West Midlands – representing the largest single area bus network in the UK outside London. Also operator of the Midland Metro light-rail service.	Travel West Midlands Travel Midland Metro Travel Dundee Group Bronckaers	Turnover (£m) Operating profit (£m) Operational fleet Passenger journeys (m) Employees	200.1 50.6 2,086 361 5,462	196.4 47.6 2,101 358 5,479
	Largest train operator in the UK. Nine train operating companies provide a range of intercity, urban and rural passenger train services and a dedicated train maintenance operation.	Caledonian Sleeper, c2c, Central Trains, Gatwick Express, Maintrain, Midland Mainline, ScotRail, Silverlink, Stansted Express, Valley Lines, Wales & West, WAGN	Turnover (£m) Operating profit (£m) Operational fleet Passenger journeys (m) Employees	1,058.6 34.1 959 180 10,784	921.8 28.0 595 145 7,790
	Extensive and integrated network of scheduled and contracted coach services in three business segments – UK express coaches, airport services and European coaching.	UK express coach services: “Rapide” and “Shuttle” Airlinks: Airbus, Flightlink, Jetlink, Heathrow Hotel Hoppa, Railair, Speedlink Eurolines: UK and The Netherlands	Turnover (£m) Operating profit (£m) Operational fleet Passenger journeys (m) Employees	186.8 11.3 376 22 2,007	168.2 11.0 282 19 1,358
	One of the largest private operators of student transportation bus services, public transit bus services and demand-response services.	Student transportation: Bauman, Crabtree-Harmon, Durham, Robinson, School Services and Leasing (SS&L) Public transit and demand-response: ATC, Forsythe, Intelitran, MultiSystems Airports: Stewart International	Turnover (£m) Operating profit (£m) Operational fleet Passenger journeys (m) Employees	301.6 32.7 11,150 243 16,635	64.6 9.5 7,843 46 2,379
	Largest private operator of public transport in Australia. Provides bus services in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, and train and tram operations in Melbourne and across the State of Victoria.	Buses: Blue Ribbon, National Bus Company, Southern Coast Transit, Westbus Trains and trams: M>Train, M>Tram, V/Line Passenger	Turnover (£m) Operating profit (£m) Operational fleet: buses trains and trams Passenger journeys (m) Employees	221.5 13.3 1,197 568 215 3,998	91.8 4.2 972 568 96 1,760



January George Reid, MSP (right) with Janette Anderson (left), Director, Railtrack Scotland, and Alastair McPherson, Managing Director of ScotRail, opening ScotRail’s Dunfermline Communications Centre. The centre provides on-line CCTV and help points to 16 stations in the east of Scotland.

	February Continuing its expansion in airport-related services, the coach division acquired the Airbus brand. Following its relaunch in May, the high-frequency links between central London and London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports were promoted. Existing Jetlink services were merged into the new Airbus brand and new timetables, livery and merchandising were introduced.

March A A$1bn order for 62 new trains and 59 new trams for Melbourne’s public transport system was placed in March. The rolling stock, scheduled for delivery between 2002 and 2005, will improve comfort for passengers, increase energy efficiency and reduce noise in residential areas through which the services operate.

	April Airport Express’s marketing and sales alliance with BAA was launched. Under this brand, the benefits of travelling to and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports by rail are promoted. Following the acquisition of Prism Rail, Stansted Express will be incorporated into Airport Express during 2001.

May In Australia, we introduced disciplines such as Customer Service Charters, safety management, and drug and alcohol policies on our bus operations – the first of their type to be introduced.

June As part of its initiative to promote safe public travel. M>Train, in conjunction with Australia’s Victoria Government, introduced 53 patrollers on trains to encourage even safer late-night travel. Such initiatives have been well received by passengers.

	July Following an upgrade in services, Gatwick Express was relaunched. We undertook a complete overhaul of its corporate identity as part of an investment programme to replace its entire fleet of rolling stock. Advertising, PR, sponsorship, signage and internal communications were used to increase awareness of the newly launched service. Tony Blair, the UK’s Prime Minister, visited Gatwick Express in the autumn. Our Australian businesses, Blue Ribbon, National Bus Company and Westbus, mobilised a force of 171 drivers and a fleet of 315 buses and coaches to manage two of the key Olympic bus routes to major Olympic venues. The Olympic Flame made an historic journey aboard a Swanston Tram as part of its 11,000km trip around Australia.

August GoByCoach.com was launched by the coach division, replacing existing coach internet booking sites. Following its launch, the site recorded around three million hits a month and bookings increased significantly. The site currently accounts for 6% of ticket sales a month. During the fuel crisis and rail disruption, the site was particularly helpful by providing valuable information on coach services to passengers. As part of the UK train refranchising process, Midland Mainline was awarded a two year extension to 2008. We committed to investing £22m in stations, including the construction of East Midlands Parkway Station, a £17m multi-modal park and ride facility as well as increased frequency of trains, faster journey times, new destinations and improved punctuality.

	September We completed the acquisitions of Prism Rail in the UK which brought two new busy London commuter businesses, WAGN and c2c, and the Welsh businesses, Wales & West and Valley Lines, into our trains division. In the USA, we acquired School Services and Leasing (SS&L), which consolidated our position as the third-largest provider of student transportation in the USA operating in 19 states.

October In recognition of her work in promoting links with the local community, Anna Barrett, Travel Adviser at Silverlink, won the prestigious national “Station Employee of the Year” prize. This is awarded to individuals who are committed to voluntary work in the community.

November Swanston Trams’ and Bayside Trains’ operations were rebranded under the M>Tram and M>Train brands. This rebranding enables services in Melbourne to be jointly promoted under the banner of “Moving Melbourne”. Victoria’s Transport Minister, Peter Batchelor, launched Melbourne’s rebranded M>Train Service.

	December Following the opening of the Midland Metro we were awarded the European Public Transport Prize 2000 for Culture and Mobility, for the accessibility and quality of Wolverhampton’s transport scheme.