Outdoor advertising group Maiden ensured its presence at 17 major UK railway stations today after securing a new 10-year contract with Network Rail.

Maiden shares rose 10% following news of the success, which covers 2,000 poster sites worth a potential £450 million in advertising revenues.

The company, which recently won train advertising contracts with National Express, South Eastern Trains and First Great Western, said it had beaten off strong competition to extend the seven year contract it won in 1997.

Ten of the stations are in London with the others being Birmingham New Street, Edinburgh Waverley, Gatwick Airport, Glasgow Central, Leeds, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly.

Chief executive Ron Zeghibe said Maiden had benefited from its development of innovative products, such as screens providing news content as well as adverts.

He added: "These are very important tenders to have won. Not only were they won against keen international competition but we have been offered a longer advertising contract this time."

In March, Maiden said it remained in the red during 2003 with bottom-line losses of £100,000 - £1 million better than a year earlier - but added that a record start to 2004 had offered encouragement for the year ahead.

Friday July 16, 2004