Pre-close trading statement

Arriva plc, the European transport services group, announces that trading for the six-month period ended 30 June 2006 has continued in line with expectations.

Arriva completed the repositioning of the group's portfolio in February this year with the sale of its vehicle rental business. In April it increased its presence in the German transport market by acquiring Bils, a 118-bus operation in North-Rhine Westphalia and in May it acquired 21.5 per cent of Barraqueiro SGPS SA, the leading Portuguese passenger transport operator.

In the evolving European rail market, February saw Arriva win a nine-year contract to operate Pagatag regional train services in southern Sweden from June 2007, and in June it won a ten-year contract to operate rail services between Munich, Oberstdorf in the Bavarian Alps and Lindau in southern Germany, from December 2007.

At Arriva's annual general meeting in April, David Martin became chief executive upon the retirement of Bob Davies.

Arriva is pleased to have submitted its bid for the south western rail franchise, a decision on which is expected in the autumn. The company is currently seeking pre-qualification for further franchise opportunities in UK rail.

Interim results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2006 will be announced on 7 September 2006.