Arriva enters Polish rail market

Arriva plc, one of Europe’s leading bus and rail operators, has entered the Polish rail market with 50/50 joint venture partner PCC Rail, one of Poland‘s fastest growing cargo operators.

The PCC Arriva Consortium has been awarded a three-year contract to operate a package of diesel train services in Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voidvodship (Region) in north-west Poland. The contract is expected to generate approximately GBP 20
mln (PLN 100 mln) revenue for the consortium over its lifetime.
Operations will start in December, serving around 60 stations and running 1.75 mln kilometres a year.

David Martin, Arriva’s chief executive, said: “Our entry into Poland, one of Europe‘s major national markets for passenger transport, will increase the number of countries in which Arriva operates to ten. This is the first contract award of its type in the country, and will further develop Arriva’s reputation for innovation in bringing private sector expertise to mainland European transport operations. We look forward to exploring similar opportunities in both bus and rail in Poland.

Work has already started to create the new operation, which will employ 120 people. A local administration and train crew base will be established to recruit and train staff for the new company.
Arriva provides more than one billion passenger journeys every year in transport services including buses, trains, commuter coaches and water buses, and presently operates in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.