19 February 2015

Transport operator Go-Ahead today reported its half year results for the six months to 27 December 2014.

Through its bus and rail operating companies Go-Ahead keeps people moving and is an integral part of the local communities it serves, across the UK. Our public transport services make a strong contribution to the vibrancy of local economies of the towns and cities we're based in. Every year more than a billion journeys are made on our services: with commuters travelling to work; students to places of education; as well as those making shopping and leisure trips. Travelling by public transport is a cost-effective way to reduce road congestion, cut carbon emissions and improve air quality.

We provide 30% of the UK's rail journeys and carry more commuters into London than any other operator, supporting the capital's growing economy. London's increasing population is kept moving 24 hours a day by Go-Ahead services operating almost a quarter of all London buses.

Successes over the last six months in Go-Ahead's four key areas of responsibility include:

Society Go-Ahead is the first transport group to receive the Carbon Trust triple status for reductions in water, carbon and waste. This is an important achievement and is the result of significant efforts by our operating companies and our long-running 'driving energy further' campaign. So far, since 2008 we've achieved a 12.2% reduction in CO2 emissions.

Separately the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) UK results have been published and Go-Ahead scored 84 B this year - the highest score achieved by the Group so far and a seven point improvement upon last year's disclosure score (77 B). CDP is an organisation working with 767 institutional investors holding US$92 trillion in assets. It aims to transform the way the world does business to prevent climate change.

Customers We lead the sector in the development of m-ticketing, smartcards and bus and rail apps providing customers with convenient, flexible ways to pay for services and get up-to-the-minute travel information. Our regular software update releases ensure that we remain at the forefront of this area with increased functionality providing improved ticketing options, more payment channels and interactive social media feeds.

Go-Ahead operates the largest smartcard scheme outside London and together with Britain's other major bus operators has committed to introduce Oyster-style smart ticketing in England's cities over the coming year. The majority of Go-Ahead bus companies already have multi-operator ticket schemes in place, with over 600,000 smartcards in issue, ensuring travelling by bus is convenient and easily accessible in the areas we serve.

Finance Over the past six months our rail franchises have made a contribution to the Government of £108.2m and in the same period the Group made a profit of £10.2m from its rail division (just under a 1% margin). The bus division contributed £45.1m of profit in the same period.

Go-Ahead is recognised for its transparency and openness in our financial reporting and this has been recognised at the Investor Relations Society Best Practice Awards for 'most effective communication of overall investment proposition'.

We are the first company in the FTSE 350 to have been awarded a Fair Tax Mark - a scheme that holds companies to account over their tax affairs. This label is for good taxpayers and companies that seek to pay the right amount of corporate tax at the right time and in the right place.

Our people The Go-Ahead Group is actively progressing through the Investors in People (IiP) categories - as part of its commitment to investing in employees training, development and wellbeing. The IiP framework recognises organisations that champion best practice in people management and have a culture of continual improvement and an ethos of listening, valuing and acting on the suggestions employees make and the innovations they bring.

To support this approach an online training and development resource, available to all 26,000 employees across the Group, has been developed to provide advice, guidance, and support as well as access to learning materials and courses.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

The Go-Ahead Group
Sarah Boundy, Group Corporate Communications Director
sarah.boundy@go-ahead.com
www.go-ahead.com
07808 568 667

Go-Ahead
Go-Ahead is a leading UK public transport operator, providing high quality services in the bus and rail sectors. Employing around 26,000 people across the country, over one billion passenger journeys are undertaken on our services each year. We are committed to operating our companies in a safe, socially and environmentally responsible way and are proud to have been accredited with triple Carbon Trust Standard for reductions in carbon, water and waste. In addition to the travelling public, our customers include the Department for Transport, Transport for London (TfL) and local authorities.

Go-Ahead Bus
Go-Ahead is one of the UK's largest bus operators. With a fleet of around 4,700 buses, we carry nearly two million passengers every day. Our operations are focused on high density commuter markets. We have a strong presence in London, with around 24 per cent market share, where we provide regulated services for TfL. We operate deregulated services in Oxford, East Anglia, the south east, southern and north east England.

Go-Ahead Rail
The rail operation, Govia, is 65 per cent owned by Go-Ahead and 35 per cent by Keolis. It is the busiest rail operation in the UK, currently responsible for nearly 30 per cent of all UK passenger rail journeys through its four rail franchises: GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway), Southern (which includes the Gatwick Express), Southeastern and London Midland.

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