Profile

Arriva Plc is among Europe’s biggest transport services providers, operating bus, train, airport transfers, commuter coach and waterbus services across 11 European countries: the UK, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia and the Netherlands.

The company was acquired in 2010 by Deutsche Bahn, a worldwide passenger and logistics service provider. The company employs over 35,000 employees and its annual revenue is in excess of three billion pounds.

The company was established in 1938 in Sunderland and was known as Cowie after the founding family. From a single used motorcycle shop, the business expanded into automotive retailing in 1960 and moved into the bus services business in 1980, acquiring the Grey-Green business in 1980; topping it with the acquisition of The British Bus Group Plc in 1996.

The business was renamed Arriva in 1997 and consolidated over 140 transport brands across Europe, including vehicle rentals, commuter coach and rail services.

The company rebranded as a primary provider of bus and rail passenger services in 1999, selling off the automotive retailing, contract hire and vehicle rentals businesses.