Transaction in Own Shares

17 January 2006

                                FirstGroup plc                                 

                       Buyback of 53,064 ordinary shares                       

FirstGroup plc ('the Company') announces that on 17 January 2006 it purchased
53,064 ordinary shares of 5p each at an average price of 408.4321 pence per
share. The highest price paid was 409.50 pence per share. The lowest price paid
was 406 pence per share.

The Company intends to hold these shares in treasury.

Following the purchase of these shares, the Company holds 7,130,340 of its
shares in treasury and has 398,751,321 shares in issue (including treasury
shares).