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Arriva plc
Company typeSubsidiary company
IndustryPublic transport
Founded1938 (Sunderland)
HeadquartersSunderland, United Kingdom
Key people
Richard Broadbent
(Chairman)
David Martin
(CEO)
Revenue£3,147.8 million (2009)[1]
£165.5 million (2009)[1]
£119.2 million (2009)[1]
OwnerDeutsche Bahn (Which is owned by Federal Republic of Germany (100% share))
Number of employees
circa 44,000 (2010)[2]
Websitehttp://www.arriva.co.uk

Arriva[3] is a multinational public transport company headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom and a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each year.[4]

History

Arriva North West's VDL SB120/Wright Cadet 2446

The company was founded by TSK Cowie in Sunderland in 1938 as a second hand motorcycle dealer trading as T Cowie Limited.[5] In 1948 the business was re-launched by Tom Cowie, the founder's son, still selling motorcycles.[6] T Cowie plc was floated in December 1964 and in 1965 purchased the first of many car dealerships.[7]

In 1972 it formed Cowie Contract Hire which became the largest contract hire business in the United Kingdom.[6] In 1980 T Cowie made its first bus foray, purchasing the Grey-Green operation in London from the George Ewer Group.[5][8]

In 1984 T Cowie plc acquired the Hanger Group which included Interleasing, a large vehicle leasing business.[6] Further leasing companies acquired were Marley Leasing, RoyScott Drive and Ringway Leasing.[8]

Following the retirement of Tom Cowie the company was renamed Cowie Group plc in April 1994.[3]

As part of the Privatisation of London bus services, Cowie Group purchased the Leaside Buses and South London Transport business units in September 1994 and January 1995.[9]

Cowie plc bought United Automobile Services and British Bus Group in July and August 1996, both had acquired a number of privatised bus companies.[5][10][11] Cowie Group would go on to purchase a number of bus operations across the United Kingdom in the next few years.

In November 1997 the company was rebranded as Arriva plc.[5] In that year it also bought Unibus in Denmark, its first venture outside the United Kingdom.[5] Arriva has since expanded rapidly into Europe.

In June 1999 Arriva sold its vehicle hire business to General Motors.[12] In February 2000 Arriva entered the UK rail market with its purchase of MTL Holdings which included the Merseyrail Electrics and Northern Spirit franchises.[5][13] In 2002 Arriva sold its motor retailing business[14] and in 2006 it sold its vehicle rental business to Northgate.[15]

In 2010 it was reported that the government owned railway companies of France (SNCF) and Germany (Deutsche Bahn) were considering making takeover bids for the business.[16][17] SNCF subsidiary Keolis and Arriva entered discussions regarding a merger,[18] however in April 2010 it was announced that Deutsche Bahn was to make a takeover offer for Arriva at 775 pence a share (£1.5 billion).[19][20] The takeover was approved by the European Commission in August 2010, conditional on Deutsche Bahn disposing of some Arriva services in Germany. The takeover took effect on 27 August 2010.[21][22] Arriva plc was delisted from the London Stock Exchange on 31 August 2010.[23]

In late 2011 Arriva purchased the Grand Central Railway business and sold its Arriva Scotland West bus operation.[24][25][26]

Current operations

Czech Republic

Bus & Coach

In December 2006 Arriva entered the Czech Republic bus market with the acquisition of Transcentrum Bus s.r.o, a leading company operating bus services in Mladá Boleslav District of Central Bohemian Region, north east of Prague.[27]

In January 2007 Arriva acquired Bosák Bus s.r.o, which operates to the south west of Prague and Příbram District of Central Bohemian Region, strengthening their position in the Czech Republic bus market.[27]

In November 2007 Arriva acquired OSNADO s.r.o., which operates bus and coach services in the north of Hradec Králové Region in East Bohemia, at foothills of Krkonoše mountains.[27]

Arriva operates 250 buses and employs 400 people in the Czech Republic.[27]

Train

The company ARRIVA vlaky s. r. o. bought ten two-car diesel units and announced accelerated train operation at the line Benešov u Prahy – Praha – Kralupy nad Vltavou since 9 December 2012 or January 2013.[28]

Denmark

An Arriva LINT train in Denmark

Bus

In 1997 Arriva entered the Danish bus transport market, acquiring Unibus.[29] In 1999 Arriva Denmark expanded with the acquisition of Bus Danmark[29] In 2001 Arriva acquired Denmark's largest bus operator, Combus.[29] In 2004 it went on to buy Wulff which operates buses in Jutland and Copenhagen, thus becoming the biggest operator in Copenhagen, with a 40% market share.[29] In 2007 Arriva acquired Veolia Scandinavia, then Denmark's second largest bus operator.[29] In 2009 Arriva commenced operating a unique electric bus system in the centre of Copenhagen. Arriva currently holds approximately 50% market share in Copenhagen's bus services. This market share is mirrored throughout Denmark.[29]

Train

Denmark's rail services were opened up to private operators in 2000, and in 2003 Arriva was the first private company to win passenger rail franchises, running services in mid and north Jutland on eight-year concessions.[29] In 2009 Arriva retained the franchise for a further eight years commencing 2010.[29] Arriva operates around 15% of the Danish rail network, and has attained record levels of customer satisfaction.[29]

Waterbus

Arriva operates three waterbuses in Copenhagen's harbour area.

Statistics

Arriva Denmark operates 1,450 buses, 44 trainsets, 3 waterbuses and employs 4,300 people.

Hungary

Bus

Arriva acquired 80% of Interbus Invest, the holding company of Eurobus Invest, Hungary's largest private bus operator which operates bus services in Hungary and Slovakia.

Italy

Bus & Coach

In 2002 Arriva acquired SAB Autoservizi and SAF - Società Autoservizi Friuli-Venezia Giuliaand entered the Italian market, operating in the Lombardy, Liguria and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions of northern Italy.[30]

In 2004 Arriva expanded into the Udine area of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region with the acquisition of 60 per cent of SAF.

In 2005 Arriva began operating SADEM in the Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta regions of northern Italy, near Turin. They run public transport bus services as well as commercial, contract and private hire services.

In 2007 Arriva entered a joint venture with Ferrovie Nord Milano (FNM SpA) and completed the acquisition of 49 per cent of Italian bus operator SPT Linea, which was then renamed ASF Autolinee.[30][31]

In 2008 they took control of SAIA Transporti.[30]

In March 2012 Arriva has expressed interest in buying ATAF Florence, the leading public urban transport of Tuscany, offering for sale to Council's decision of the regional capital. Arriva finally lost the bid against Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.

Malta

Bus

Together with local partners The Tumas Group, Arriva hold a ten year concession to operate all scheduled bus services on Malta and Gozo. Public services commenced on 3 July 2011. The main fleet of Arriva Malta is formed of 172 brand new King Long buses built in China. These are supported on high density routes by a smaller fleet of Mercedes-Benz O530G Citaro bendy-buses formerly operated by Arriva London. A small fleet of ten hybrid Optare Solos has also been ordered, which are slowly entering service. Two Blue Bird mini-buses for use in the city of Valletta have also been delivered. All Arriva buses feature Euro V engines.

Arriva has been harshly criticized both by commuters and the government agency Transport Malta for consistently failing to keep up standards. On 14 November 2012, Arriva was harshly reprimanded by Transport Malta and given till the end of the month to bring up all its routes to 100% efficiency before TM deploys its own shuttles at Arriva's expense.[32]

Netherlands

See also Public transport in the Netherlands.

Bus & Coach

Arriva moved into the Dutch market in 1998 when it bought Vancom Nederland and Veonn & Hanze.[33] In 2002 it won tenders in Gelderland and in 2003 won further work in the City of Groningen, Province of Groningen and Drenthe. It won further contracts in 2005 in Drenthe and Waterland and later in the Drechtsteden, Alblasserwaard, Rivierenland, Meierij, Oost-Brabant, and Vijfheerenlanden (DAV) area.[34] In 2009, Arriva lost the contracts in Drenthe and Groningen but won the 2010 contract of the Achterhoek and rewon the contract of Rivierenland. From December 2012 Arriva won the contract for Zuid Holland North, around Leiden, The Hague and Zoetermeer.

Name From Until
Vlieland 01-03-2009 31-12-2015
Terschelling 01-03-2009 31-12-2015
Ameland 01-03-2009 31-12-2015
Schiermonnikoog 01-03-2009 31-12-2015
Rivierenland 01-01-2003 11-12-2010
Waterland 11-12-2005 10-12-2011
Drechtsteden/Alblasserwaard/Vijfheerenlanden 01-01-2007 31-12-2018
Hoeksche Waard/Goeree-Overflakkee 01-01-2008 15-12-2014
Meierij 10-12-2006 09-12-2014
Oost-Brabant 10-12-2006 09-12-2014
Achterhoek/Rivierenland 12-12-2010 01-01-2021
Lelystad/Flevoland 04-09-2011 04-09-2021
Zuid Holland Noord 09-12-2012 12-12-2020

Train

An Arriva train in service in the Netherlands

Arriva established a joint venture with NS in 1999.[34] It took complete control of this business in 2003.[34] In 2005 it secured a contract to operate trains from Groningen to Leeuwarden, Delfzijl, Roodeschool and Nieuweschans. It also secured a contract to operate trains from Leeuwarden to Harlingen Haven and to Stavoren. Later that year it secured a contract to operate trains from Dordrecht to Gorinchem and on to Geldermalsen (MerwedeLingelijn).[34] From 2012, Arriva operates the trains in the Achterhoek. The trade name of these services is Spurt.

Passes and tickets issued under the National Tariff System are valid on Arriva trains.

Poland

Train

Arriva train operating in Poland

Arriva formed a joint venture with PCC Rail, Arriva PCC Sp. z o.o., in December 2006.[35] In December 2007 Poland became the 10th country in which Arriva operates transport services. The company won a tender to serve passenger rail traffic on some non-electrified lines in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.[36]

Portugal

Bus & Coach

In 2000 Arriva entered the Portuguese bus market, acquiring João Carlos Soares e Filhos, Viacao Costa & Lino Lda, Ami-Transportes and Abílio da Costa Moreira & C Lda who were running inter-urban local bus services in the north west of Portugal.[33]

In 2002 Arriva acquired Transportes Sul do Tejo, a scheduled bus and coach operator in the growing commuter region south of Lisbon, an area of some 600 square miles (1,600 km2). They also operate schools and works contracts here.[37]

In 2006 Arriva acquired a 21.5% share of leading transport company Barraqueiro, with bus and rail operations in and around Lisbon, increasing the stake by 10% in 2008.[37]

Spain

Bus

In 1999 Arriva entered the Spanish bus market in Galicia acquiring Mercancia Ideal Gallego and Transportes Finisterre.[33] Their services cover three of the four provinces in the region - A Coruña, Lugo and Ourense - including part of the famous Santiago pilgrimage route. They are now focusing on working with the metropolitan transport authorities to develop their operations in A Coruña and Ferrol.

In 2002 Arriva began bus service operations in Majorca.[38] Their Autocares Mallorca and Bus Nord operations cover the northern and western parts of the island, linking the capital Palma with towns such as Soller, Inca and Alcúdia.

In 2007 Arriva acquired Esfera, an operator in Madrid, providing school contracts and private hire bus services, and Autocares Fray Escoba, another local operator.[38]

In 2008 Arriva bought Empresa de Blas y Cia, another bus operator.,[38] which operates routes between Madrid and its southwestern suburbs (Alcorcón, Mostoles, Villaviciosa de Odon...), and between these very suburbs. Buses in these towns are called "Blasas" after the name of the company.

Sweden

Bus

Arriva has operated bus lines in southern Sweden/The Skåne Region since 1997 when it acquired Unibus of Denmark.[39]

Arriva operates bus lines in some municipalities of Stockholms län: Sigtuna kommun, Upplands Väsby kommun and Ekerö kommun.[40] And from mid-2012 they will also operate in the Bromma, Täby and Solna parts of Stockholm.[41]

Arriva also operates in the Halland Region since 2010, partly taking over services from Swebus.[42]

Train

In June 2007 Arriva won a nine-year franchise for the Pågatåg regional rail services in Skåne County, south Sweden.[36]

Starting in January 2013, Arriva is running the commuter trains on Roslagsbanan north of Stockholm.

United Kingdom

Bus & Coach

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arriva Buses GB.
The Original Tour's MCW Metrobus 767
Green Line coach in Finchley Road, London
See also: Bus transport in the United Kingdom

Arriva's bus network in the UK originates from its acquisition of Grey-Green in 1980 and the British Bus Group in 1996.[5] It has the following operating units:

Arriva bus tickets are sold on buses, at their ticket offices and also online. Arriva joined the Ice loyalty scheme in 2011 due to the environmental credentials and shared sustainability ethos of the two businesses.

Train

Main article: Arriva UK Trains
Arriva Trains Wales Class 150 at Blaenau Ffestiniog

Arriva has operated a number of rail franchises in the UK since privatisation in 1996 though its subsidiary, Arriva UK Trains. It gained its first franchises in February 2000, though both these have now been lost. Arriva UK Trains currently runs a number of train operating companies:

  • CrossCountry operates long-distance cross-country routes. The New Cross Country franchise runs from 11 November 2007 until 31 March 2016.[44]
  • London & North Western Railway operates train maintenance depots at Bristol, Cambridge, Crewe, Eastleigh and Newcastle.[45]

Arriva UK Trains wishes to expand the number of UK Rail businesses it operates by developing open access operations and successfully bidding for further Department for Transport rail franchises.[46] Alliance Rail Holdings continues to develop new open access proposals following the rejection of their initial plans by the Office of Rail Regulation in 2011.[47]

During 2011/12 Arriva's applications to bid for the InterCity West Coast, Greater Anglia, Essex Thameside and Thameslink franchises were all rejected by the Department for Transport. Following this run of failure Arriva was publicly critical of the government's prequalification process and called for it to be abolished.[46] However Arriva has been shortlisted to bid for the new Great Western franchise.[48]

Former operations

Germany

Train

As part of the takeover of Arriva by Deutsche Bahn, Arriva's German railway operations were sold to Ferrovie dello Stato to comply with a European Commission condition.[49] These are now branded as Netinera.

United Kingdom

Bus

Train

Livery

New Enterprise Coaches 2054 Scania K113CRB/Van Hool
Arriva Southern Counties 6445 Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400 painted in the interurban livery, that is now the standard livery for UK buses outside London

In the main, for bus and rail operations, Arriva uses a uniform corporate livery. The livery features an aquamarine base colour (Pantone 321) with a Cotswold Stone coloured semicircle on the upper front section, outlined by a white stripe. A thin yellow stripe runs around the base of the vehicle, and the same yellow is used for any lettering on the vehicle, although some vehicles have lettering in the same light green as their logo.[citation needed]

Various route branding schemes see the liberal application of basic colours and wording to some routes, usually through the application of vinyl stickers.

Initially to comply with Transport for London's requirements that buses be 80% red, Arriva London adapted its standard livery with red in lieu of aquamarine, with extra red at the front to form "horns" instead of a full circle. Latterly, London vehicles have been painted all-over red to comply with Transport for London's new requirements.

Exceptions to standard livery include:

In late 2009 a decision was made in the United Kingdom to adopt the Interurban livery as standard livery for buses, after a long period of confusion, with both repaints and new deliveries going into both liveries. A repaint programme has now started for all buses in the fleet. Continental European operations continue to carry the previous colour scheme.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Arriva plc Preliminary Results 2009 Arriva plc 3 March 2010
  2. ^ Arriva Home Page Arriva
  3. ^ a b Companies House extract company no 347103 Arriva plc
  4. ^ "Sharing the Journey Arriva Corporate brochure 2011" (PDF) (Press release). Arriva plc. 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Arriva History and growth Arriva
  6. ^ a b c Background Sir Tom Cowie
  7. ^ Sir Tom Cowie Founder of a Transport Empire The Independent 1 February 2012
  8. ^ a b How Arriva arrived in the Capital Focus Transport February 2012
  9. ^ The Arriva London Story Arriva London 2012
  10. ^ Cowie Group plc and British Bus Group Limited: A report on the merger situation Competition Commission 1997
  11. ^ Principal bus operating subsidiaries of British Bus Competition Commission 1997
  12. ^ GM unit buys Arriva car hire in £513m deal The Independent 12 June 1999
  13. ^ Recommended Cash Offer for MTL Services Arriva plc 18 February 2000
  14. ^ EU move prompts Arriva to sell car dealerships The Independent 15 October 2002
  15. ^ Arriva sells off car rental arm The Telegraph 31 January 2006
  16. ^ Ben Harrington (24 March 2010). "FTSE flat but Arriva perks up on talk French backing to bid". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Nick Fletcher (24 March 2010). "Arriva moves ahead on bid battle hopes". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Statement re Keolis SA Arriva plc 5 March 2010
  19. ^ Arriva plc (“Arriva”) - Response to Press Reports Regarding Deutsche Bahn AG (“Deutsche Bahn”) 19/4/2010 , Arriva plc
  20. ^ "Deutsche Bahn buys Arriva for £1.5bn". Financial Times. 22 April 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "Railway Gazette: EC approves DB's takeover of Arriva". Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  22. ^ Scheme of Arrangement becomes effective Arriva plc 27 August 2010
  23. ^ Delisting of Arriva plc Shares Arriva plc 31 August 2010
  24. ^ a b Arriva acquires open access operator Grand Central Railway Arriva 4 November 2011
  25. ^ a b Arriva exits Scotland with Sale to McGill's busandcoach.com 14 December 2011
  26. ^ a b Bus firm McGill's to take over rivals Arriva BBC News 13 December 2011
  27. ^ a b c d Arriva Czech Republic
  28. ^ Arriva testuje své spěšné vlaky pro linku Benešov - Kralupy, iDnes.cz, 2012-11-09
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i Arriva Denmark
  30. ^ a b c Arriva Italy
  31. ^ "ASF Autolinee - Azienda - Storia" (in Italian). ASF Autolinee. Retrieved 22 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Times of Malta http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121118/local/Arriva-is-given-a-harsh-warning.445743. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. ^ a b c Arriva Timeline
  34. ^ a b c d Arriva Netherlands
  35. ^ "Freightliner prepares to compete in Poland". Railway Gazette International. 2007. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  36. ^ a b Rolf Andersson (2007). "Skåne springboard as Arriva expands". Railway Gazette International. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  37. ^ a b Arriva Portugal
  38. ^ a b c Arriva Spain
  39. ^ Arriva Sweden
  40. ^ Plan för SLs upphandling av buss- och spårtrafik 2009-2012
  41. ^ Arriva gears up for start of services in Stockholm Arriva Sweden 10 August 2012
  42. ^ Arriva vinner trafik i Halland
  43. ^ SRA Announces Preferred Bidder for New Integrated Wales Franchise Strategic Rail Authority 1 August 2003
  44. ^ Arriva welcomes new CrossCountry rail franchise award Arriva plc 10 July 2007
  45. ^ Welcome to LNWR London & North Western Railway
  46. ^ a b Rail Professional interview: Bob Holland Rail Professional October 2011
  47. ^ Alliance Rail Holdings Restates its Position on New Rail Services for the West Coast Main Line Alliance Rail Holdings 4 May 2012
  48. ^ Bidders to oversee improvements on rail franchises announced Department for Transport 29 March 2012
  49. ^ Commission clears proposed acquisition of Arriva by Deutsche Bahn, subject to conditions Europa 11 August 2010
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