Arriva Group acquires RTS Infrastructure to enhance its UK rail portfolio

Arriva Group has today announced it’s concluded a deal to acquire RTS Infrastructure, marking its entry into the UK rail infrastructure construction market and significantly expanding its train maintenance capability, with the addition of a depot near Leeds, complementing the existing Arriva Train Care business offering.

The acquisition will broaden Arriva’s service offering to existing and new clients and further diversify the Group’s UK Trains business division, supporting long-term growth through a broader revenue mix. As part of the deal, Arriva will take over RTS Infrastructure’s existing maintenance and design and build contracts, enhancing its order book and positioning the Group for further growth.

The deal also includes the lease of a modern rail maintenance facility located near Leeds Station, which will become a key part of Arriva’s national network of depots, expanding its overnight rail vehicle servicing capacity and reinforcing the Group’s ability to deliver high-quality, reliable services for rail operators across the UK.

RTS Infrastructure is based in Leeds and delivers rail depot servicing and infrastructure works such as platform upgrades and track alterations across the UK. The company holds a Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence, unlocking a completely new service offering for Arriva and allowing it to provide additional services to existing and new clients.

Amanda Furlong, Managing Director of Arriva UK Trains and member of the Arriva Executive Committee, said: “This acquisition is an important investment for the Arriva Group and underlines our commitment to the UK rail industry, building our position within it. RTS Infrastructure not only strengthens our depot capacity, but brings valuable construction and infrastructure capability in-house and enhances our competitiveness in the rail sector. This deal is crucial to our strategy to diversify in the UK rail market and operate more flexibly in a changing policy and commercial environment.”

Paul Hutchings, Managing Director of Arriva Rail Services, added: “RTS Infrastructure is a great fit for our UK rail business, bringing an expanded depot footprint and new opportunities to deliver design and construction services. With a skilled team and strong order book, the acquisition will help us better serve new and existing clients.”

RTS Infrastructure currently provides supporting services for a range of customers in the rail sector, including Network Rail, TOCs (Train Operating Companies) and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).

Chris Reid, Managing Director of RTS Infrastructure, said: “We're thrilled to be joining Arriva Group. We’ve built a successful business over 15 years, delivering high quality infrastructure and depot operations to the UK rail sector and servicing major clients, winning national frameworks and employing an incredibly skilled and dedicated team. 

“Becoming part of Arriva will allow us to expand and enhance the services we offer our customers, backed by the strength, scale, and expertise of a pan-European organisation with its established and diverse UK rail portfolio. Our staff will also benefit from being part of the Group, with all the opportunities that will bring for future careers.” 

The acquisition forms part of Arriva’s broader European growth strategy, which includes recent investments in fleet, infrastructure and digital innovation to make public transport a more attractive and sustainable option.

The deal enhances RTS’s delivery capabilities and boosts growth and employment potential with Arriva’s broader portfolio. Arriva is committed to delivering stability and continuity throughout the acquisition and business integration process.  All RTS Infrastructure's employee roles and customer agreements will be unaffected by the transaction.

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About Arriva Group:

Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 36,200 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, bike-sharing systems, on-demand transport solutions and a rolling stock leasing company, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day. The activities of Arriva are divided into four business units: UK Bus, UK Trains, The Netherlands and Mainland Europe. Arriva has passenger transport operations in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom, and also operates a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.