Arriva and SNCF in preliminary merger talks

Date: 29/1/2010

The UK transport operator is discussing moves to create a combination of Arriva and part of its transport business Keolis with French state-owned rail operator SNCF.

Should the transport group be created, it would have revenues of about six billion euros (£5.2 billion).

The move follows the liberalization of Europe's railway operations, which could lead to other changes in Europe's passenger lines including further lines being privatised or put out for tender.

Arriva currently runs most of the train services in Wales, as well as CrossCountry trains and has a European division reportedly worth £1.4 billion in revenues in 2008, the Times notes.

It has operations across 12 countries and had total revenues of £3.04 billion last year.