Great Western Coffee Shop

FirstGroup has been accused of overstating its annual profits by millions of pounds by using unusual and ^highly aggressive^ accounting practices (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/06/firstgroup_hits_back_at_claims.html#more

The company is reporting regular business expenses , including train refurbishment and legal and professional fees related to its bids for train franchises , as exceptional or ^nonrecurring^ items.

No other British rail company follows the same practice , which has aroused the interest of MPs on the Public Accounts Committee.

I was interested not so much in the accounting methods (who does that try to fool - shareholders and accountants?) but rather in the 28 million pound spent in one year on the FGW and Capital Connect franchise bids.   In other words, the cost of the company submitting their bids  (the competitive process) which is supposed to bring us good value for money through competition actually cost just this one bidder ONE HUNDRED TIMES the amount of money they tell us that they needed to provide an appropriate TransWilts (Swindon - Westbury - Salisbury) service for a year.

Do you think we could persuade the company to save 1% on their upcoming bid expenses and spend the money on providing a decent passenger service for us?  We would then, truely, be their ambassadors and be rooting for them to continue with and renew the service next time around.     If they saved 10% on their bid costs, they could buy back the gratitude of 10 lines / areas around the country ....