FirstGroup to provide buses and coaches for 2012 London Olympics

Transport provider FirstGroup has won the prestigious contract, worth an estimated £20 million, to supply bus and coach services for spectators during the 2010 London Olympics.

The Aberdeen-based company is said to have beaten off competition from 77 other firms to become the preferred bidder for the contract. Other companies reported to have made it to the shortlist to win the deal were Stagecoach, National Express, and Go-Ahead.

FirstGroup will be responsible for orchestrating a complex transport system during the games which will involve almost 1,000 coaches and buses. The vehicles will do shuttle-runs from designated points around and outside the city into the main Olympic Park in Stratford, East London. They will also be in charge of providing park and ride facilities which will be sited around the M25.

As well as providing transport to the main Olympic stadium, FirstGroup will also lay on buses and coaches to transport spectators to Weymouth in Dorset, and Portland in Somerset where the sailing events are due to take place.

The nationwide operator currently runs some 9,000 buses and 4 different rail franchises in the UK and employs a 26,500 strong workforce. It is understood that FirstGroup’s experience in providing transport for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester was influential in their success in securing the Olympic contract. The exact details of the deal are still in the process of being finalised.