Press releases

Arriva plc, one of Europe’s leading bus and rail operators, has entered the Polish rail market with 50/50 joint venture partner PCC Rail, one of Poland’s fastest growing cargo operators.

The PCC Arriva Consortium has been awarded a three-year contract to operate a package of diesel train services in Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voidvodship (Region) in north-west Poland. The contract is expected to generate approximately £20 million (PLN 100 million) revenue for the Consortium over its lifetime.  Operations will start in December 2007, serving around 60 stations and running approximately 1.75 million kilometres a year.

David Martin, Arriva’s chief executive, said: “Our entry into Poland, one of Europe’s major national markets for passenger transport, will increase the number of countries in which Arriva operates to ten.  This is the first contract award of its type in the country, and will further develop Arriva’s reputation for innovation in bringing private sector expertise to mainland European transport operations.  We look forward to exploring similar opportunities in both bus and rail in Poland.

“Arriva’s experience of competitive tendering and PCC Rail’s in-depth understanding of the Polish rail market have made it possible to develop a consortium bid that demonstrates how private operators can add value to the Polish transport sector.  We look forward to working with our partners to deliver high quality services which represent good value for the tendering authority.”

Work has already started to create the new operation, which will employ around 120 people.  A local administration and train crew base will be established to recruit and train staff for the new company.