Stagecoach interim profits leap 44%

Transport firm Stagecoach has returned to profits growth after it saw improvements across its bus and rail operations.

The Perth-based firm reported a 44% surge in half-year underlying pre-tax profits to £108.7 million and said it had also made a good start to the second half despite recent disruption from the snow.

Stagecoach, which runs South West Trains and East Midlands Trains, said there would be a “relatively small” revenue hit across bus and rail businesses after snow badly impacted its operations across the East and Scotland.