Stagecoach : Virgin Rail Group West Coast rail franchise

21 December 2018

Virgin Rail Group West Coast rail franchise

Stagecoach Group plc is pleased to confirm that the Department for Transport has called an extension of up to one year to the West Coast rail franchise operated by the company's joint venture, Virgin Rail Group. The current West Coast franchise was due to end in March 2019 and can now continue for a period up to March 2020.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Stagecoach Group plc www.stagecoachgroup.com

Investors and analysts

Ross Paterson, Finance Director 01738 442111

Bruce Dingwall, Group Financial Controller 01738 442111

Media

Steven Stewart, Director of Communications 07764 774680

NOTES TO EDITORS

Virgin Rail Group

• VRG, which has operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997, is owned 51% by Virgin Group and 49% by Stagecoach Group.

Stagecoach Group

• Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transportation group, with extensive operations in the UK, the United States and Canada. The Group employs around 31,000 people.

• Stagecoach is one of the UK's biggest bus and coach operators with over 8,000 buses and coaches on a network stretching from south-west England to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Low-cost coach service, megabus.com, operates a network of inter-city services across the UK.

• Stagecoach is a major UK rail operator, running the East Midlands Trains network and holding a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group, which operates the West Coast rail franchise.

• Stagecoach operates the Supertram light rail network in Sheffield.

• In North America, Stagecoach operates around 2,100 buses and coaches in the United States and Canada. megabus.com operates a network of inter-city coach services in North America. Stagecoach is also involved in operating commuter, transit, contracted, charter, airport shuttle and sightseeing services.