News Releases

I was delighted to be invited to speak at the DevoConnect Northern Transport Summit this afternoon on what is needed to make a success of the National Bus Strategy. Following my opening remarks, I shared a panel discussion with Dan Jarvis MP, the Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Transport Focus, the Campaign for Better Buses for Manchester, the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the Campaign for Better Transport and the DfT.

The tens of thousands of passionate men and women that work on Britain’s railways have much to be proud of. In the years since privatisation, passenger numbers more than doubled before Covid-19 and the passenger experience has been revolutionised with thousands of new trains with the latest onboard services. Throughout the pandemic also, our people went above and beyond, enabling key workers to make vital journeys and keeping people and communities connected. I firmly believe that the railway exists to serve its passengers and keep communities connected, in good times and bad. That is why I was delighted to welcome the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail.

David Brown, Managing Director of Arriva UK Trains, said:-

Can we recover from COVID-19 while also building back greener?

Paul O’Neil commenting on the National Bus Strategy

Responding to UK Government's publication of a major new bus strategy. 

Listening to the comments of the UK Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris at the Rail Recovery Conference this morning, I was heartened to hear recognition for the essential role that rail will play in the economic recovery of the UK as we emerge from Covid restrictions.  The way the sector responds and brings passengers back to its services will be critical in a world which has changed.

• First significant Hydrogen bus order for Arriva
• 10 new vehicles set to join the fleet in 2021
• Joint investment of 6.4 million Euros from Arriva, Gelderland province and the EU

• Christian Göseke - former CFO of Swissport International AG - to join Arriva as CFO in mid-December 2020
• Christian takes over from Martin Hibbert who retired after 18 years with Arriva

• Arriva Click reduces road congestion and carbon emissions by cutting car travel
• The first demand responsive bus service in Ebbsfleet set to improve local connectivity
• Services will complement public transport infrastructure in Kent with new offering

We have all witnessed the impact of the pandemic on societies and economies across the globe. The public transport sector has been hit particularly hard, with passenger numbers having dropped by up to 90%.

• New seven-year contract for Arriva to operate buses in south-west region of Lisbon.
• Enhanced passenger services with 43 new routes launching, along with additional frequencies across all services.
• Arriva’s investment will see all buses fitted with WIFI, mobile ticketing technology, video surveillance and security systems