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British company FirstGroup's North American division First Transit has secured a rail contract from the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) to provide operation, dispatch, and maintenance services to its A-train commuter rail line.

Expected to come into effect on 1 October this year, the contract represents the first to be received by the company in North America.

FirstGroup's chief executive Tim O’Toole said: "We are very pleased that the Denton County Transit Authority has awarded us the contract for A-train service; our first rail contract in North America.

"This represents an exciting new development for the Group and we welcome the opportunity to develop and share our rail expertise with a progressive partner such as the Denton County Transportation Authority."

The nine-year contract has a provision to add a further five years and will help FirstGroup earn nearly $9m annually in revenues.

"Expected to come into effect on 1 October this year, the contract represents the first to be received by the company in North America."
DCTA's president Jim Cline said: "We’re excited to extend our partnership with First Transit to our A-train rail operations and maintenance.

"First Transit’s innovative solutions in rail infrastructure maintenance will enable us to provide enhanced services for the many communities we serve."

The 21-mile line runs between Denton and Dallas Counties in the US state of Texas, serving more than 500,000 passengers every year.

The regional rail system also connects with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) at their Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton, helping passengers use the DART Green Line and commute to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.