The magazine Bus Industry

Arriva runs including the Skånetrafiken in Sweden. The company now wants to take over the French transport giant Keolis. Photo: Ulo Maasing.

The British public transport giant Arriva, who also traffic in Sweden, wants to take over French Keolis which among other things, the main owner of Busslink in Sweden. Arriva has confirmed that it is in discussion with the French state railways SNCF, which owns nearly half the shares in Keolis.

In Sweden, driving Arriva bus service in including the Skåneleden, Jönköping and Storstocklholm, like Pågatågen in Skåne. Keolisägda Busslink are strongest in the greater Stockholm area, but also traffic in Sundsvall and via Tunabergs Taxi Jönköping area.

From Arriva is stressed that the talks are at a preliminary stage and no decision has yet been made.

According to Arriva focused discussions with SNCF that Arriva will "take over part or all of Keolis activities to create a leading European carrier with a view to a freer transport market in Europe."

As news of the talks leaked out on Thursday, the price of Arriva Shares on the London Stock Exchange, with twelve percent.

If the deal is off, the additional European passenger transport giant to form. This will improve the trend of a few large giant corporations will dominate European public transport.

In Sweden, Keolis Busslink to 70%. Photo: Ulo Maasing.

Keolis has about 40 000 employees and reported revenue of 3.17 billion euros (about 33 billion) in 2008, while Arriva has more than 44 000 employees and a turnover in 2008 of just over three billion euros (31 billion).

Keolis is owned 52 percent of the French insurance company AXA. SNCF has 45.5 percent of the shares and the top executives in Keolis 2.5 percent.

Arriva is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

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3. German Railways to buy Arriva
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