First Group's anticipated acquisition of the InterCity East Coast franchise; Competition Commission invites evidence.

0 Comments | M2 Presswire, December, 2004

M2 PRESSWIRE-22 December 2004-UK Government: First Group's anticipated acquisition of the InterCity East Coast franchise; Competition Commission invites evidence(C)1994-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE:12222004 The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has referred the anticipated acquisition of the InterCity East Coast (ICEC) franchise by FirstGroup plc (FirstGroup) to the Competition Commission (CC).

The CC has been asked to consider whether the acquisition may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the supply of passenger transport services on the rail routes covered by the ICEC franchise, including services between Doncaster, Grantham and London and also other routes in North Yorkshire. FirstGroup currently operates Hull Trains,...