27 May 2005
Arriva drives bus investment across Europe
- Arriva to invest £84 million in new buses in 2005
- Around 600 new buses ordered for the UK and mainlandEurope
- Total Arriva bus investment 2002-2005: £320million
Arriva, the transport services organisation, has announced aninvestment of over £84 million in new buses for itsoperations across Europe.
This brings Arriva's total investment in new buses in the UK andmainland Europe over the last four years to nearly £320million.
The new vehicles are set to be delivered during 2005 andconstitute: 320 vehicles for the UK, 104 for Sweden, and 73 forDenmark. Arriva's bus operations in Italy, Spain, Portugal andGermany will together take delivery of over 100 buses.
Bob Davies, Arriva's chief executive, said:
This investment represents our continuing commitment todelivering growth in each of our eight European operations. It alsoreflects our focus on improving services through innovation and byoffering customers a more comfortable and reliableservice.
David Martin, group managing director – operations,said:
Across Europe we work in a number of differentoperating environments and the investment principally reflects thewinning of new tenders.
Where we decide to locate these new vehicles in the UKwill be determined by how best they will be received and thebenefits that local authorities and Arriva working in partnershipcan secure for bus passengers.
We invest consistently in our fleet of over 12,000buses across Europe, and are focused on long-termrequirements.
Notes to editors
- In the UK, the buses are set for Arriva's businesses in London,Midlands, North East, North West, Shires and Essex, and SouthernCounties. The vehicle order for the UK comprises: 104 double deck,24 single deck, 6 coaches, 46 articulated and 10 open toppedvehicles.
- The Group's London sightseeing business – The OriginalTour – is to bring the first ever wheelchair accessibleopen-topped vehicles to the capital – with ten brand newbuses.