Arriva qualifies to bid for ScotRail

Arriva welcomes the announcement by Transport Scotland that it has prequalified to bid for the new ScotRail franchise.

Arriva submitted a prequalification questionnaire in August this year and will submit its bid in due course. The new franchise is due to begin in April 2015.

Arriva, which operates rail services across the UK and in another six countries, has a wealth of experience of working with devolved and national governments on transport contracts in the UK and across mainland Europe.

Bob Holland, Arriva’s managing director – UK, said: “We very much welcome the opportunity to develop our bid for this prestigious franchise.

“We place the utmost importance in working with a wide range of stakeholders and to developing transparent and trusting relationships that support the delivery of quality services for passengers and will maximise rail’s contribution to Scotland.

“In our bid we will detail how we plan to deliver these services, while maintaining continuous improvement relating to performance and punctuality. We will focus on transport integration and innovative approaches to improving the whole customer experience, to encourage more people to travel by train.”

He said: “We will draw from the breadth of expertise across our operations – including Arriva Trains Wales with its complex network of regional services and CrossCountry, which is similar to ScotRail’s internal inter-city network – to create a bid that will help Transport Scotland achieve its long-term vision for Scotland’s rail network.”

In the UK, Arriva operates six rail businesses – Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Grand Central, Tyne and Wear Metro and joint venture London Overground (LOROL). The group also operates rail services in the Czech Republic, Denmark the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden.