Go-Ahead upgrades profit after greater efficiency boosts rail

LONDON (Reuters) - British bus and train company Go-Ahead Group <GOG.L> upgraded its annual forecasts on Thursday, saying that improved efficiency measures on its Southeastern rail contract would boost profit in the year.

Go-Ahead, which operates the Southeastern and GTR rail franchises which connect London to its suburbs, has over the last two years made headlines for the wrong reasons with cancellations and strikes, and this week, a huge timetable change.

According to Reuters data, the company is expected to post annual pretax profit of 115 million pounds ($154 million) for the 12 months ended June 30.

($1 = 0.7486 pounds)

(Reporting by Sarah Young)