A BT-led consortium has signed a deal to provide bus and train operator FirstGroup with IT services. The £46.9m five year deal will make-over First's communications systems at its 700 UK and 300 North American sites.

Together with partners HP and MegaPath Networks, BT will manage First's current data services and oversee two new data centres and a central service desk. The big idea is, "enhancing the efficiency, consistency and quality of the current service."

The contract is the first salvo of FirstGroup's IT services transformation programme "Project Maxim". FirstGroup corporate finance director Steve McPhail said the award was a "milestone" for the company, representing "a key element in delivering further service improvements and other benefits to all our customers".

But will the peasant wagons run on time? Hmmm. ®

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