First North Western started life as Regional Railways North West when it was part of British Rail. It was privatized in 1997 and became North Western Trains Company Ltd. The franchise was awarded to run for seven years to Great Western Holdings. On 1 April 1998, it was bought out by FirstGroup plc and became First North Western.

FirstGroup plc

FirstGroup plc, is a UK-based leading international passenger transport group with an annual turnover of £2 billion and 50,000 employees across the UK and USA.

First is the UK’s largest bus operator, a major force in railways running one fifth of Britain’s passenger rail network, and London’s only tram operator. It is committed to expanding its share of the rail network and is working to introduce new routes and services in the next generation of rail franchises.

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