FirstGroup has won its first commuter rail contract in the US, with the Denton County Transportation Authority.

Its FirstTransit business will run a 21-mile rail system connecting Denton and Dallas counties in Texas, on a nine-year contract worth around $9m (£6.7m) a year., with a five-year option to extend.

First Transit already has a management contract with DCTA and its Greyhound division is headquartered in Dallas. Tim O’Toole, chief executive, said: “We look forward to building on this success as we explore further opportunities in the sector.”