All aboard! Nectar goes full steam ahead with FirstGroup

Nectar and FirstGroup are launching an exciting new partnership giving train passengers the first ever opportunity to earn Nectar points when booking their journeys online with a UK rail operator, offering customers another easy way to collect points.

From 9 April, savvy shoppers who purchase train tickets online through FirstGroup’s rail websites* will earn two Nectar points for every £1 they spend, getting more value for their money. FirstGroup operates the First Capital Connect, First Great Western, First ScotRail, First TransPennine Express and First Hull Trains services across the country. Whether individual journeys or season tickets, Nectar cardholders will be rewarded when booking their tickets with the UK’s largest rail operator – and to coincide with the launch of the partnership, customers will earn double points as part of a bonus promotion from 14 April to 27 April.

Around 310 million journeys a year are made with FirstGroup’s rail companies and there is great potential for people to collect Nectar points when travelling, by simply buying tickets in advance online. Regular rail commuters will also earn Nectar points, with 2,500 points given for annual season tickets, 200 points for a monthly ticket and 50 points for those that buy their ticket weekly.

Passengers who purchase their tickets online will be able to simply link their account with a Nectar card account to start receiving points on all tickets they buy online. In addition, customers will gain 100 bonus Nectar points for linking their accounts.

Will Shuckburgh, Nectar Managing Director said; “At Nectar, we’re committed to looking at new ways for our 19 million cardholders to collect points on their everyday spending. As rail is a key mode of transport in the UK, the partnership with FirstGroup is a great addition to the Nectar portfolio, providing another avenue for our customers to get more for their money. The partnership is a significant milestone for Nectar as it moves the programme into the rail industry for the first time.”

Vernon Barker, FirstGroup’s UK Rail Managing Director, said; “Around a quarter of UK rail passengers make train journeys with FirstGroup each year. With this fantastic and ground-breaking partnership with Nectar, we are now able to reward our loyal customers by giving them something extra when they book their tickets online. We know how valuable Nectar points are to the people and communities we serve and we are delighted to be Nectar’s first ever UK rail operator partner.”

Millions of active Nectar customers live within 10 miles of a railway station served by a FirstGroup train operating company. FirstGroup customers who are not currently Nectar cardholders will be able to apply for a Nectar card via the Nectar website or by collecting a registration pack at any Sainsbury’s or Homebase store.

                                                              -ENDS-

*http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/, http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/, http://www.scotrail.co.uk/, http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/ and http://www.hulltrains.co.uk/.

For more press information or images please contact the Nectar PR team on Nectar.team@clarioncomms.co.uk / 020 7479 0910 or the FirstGroup PR team on 020 7291 0507.

Notes to Editors:

About FirstGroup

FirstGroup plc is the leading transport operator in the UK and North America with revenues of more than £6.9 billion a year. We employ approximately 120,000 employees and transport more than 2.5 billion passengers a year across our First Student, First Transit, Greyhound, UK Bus and UK Rail divisions. Our vision is to provide solutions for an increasingly congested world… keeping people moving and communities prospering.

FirstGroup operates approximately a quarter of the UK passenger rail network, with a balanced portfolio of intercity, commuter, regional and sleeper services, carrying more than 310 million passengers a year.

FirstGroup are the UK’s largest rail operator with four passenger franchises – First Capital Connect, First Great Western, First ScotRail and First TransPennine Express – and one open access operator, First Hull Trains. FirstGroup also operates the London Tramlink network on behalf of Transport for London carrying more than 29 million passengers a year and the Heathrow Connect service in partnership with Heathrow Airport.

For more information about FirstGroup, please visit: http://www.firstgroup.com/ .