Abellio UK, including the group’s London bus operations and its rail replacement and Event Connect business, is to be subject to a management buyout from Dutch owner Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) in a move that will see the business become Transport UK Group.
Completion of the deal is subject to approval from partners including Transport for London (TfL), the Department for Transport and Merseytravel, as well as the receipt of regulatory consent from the Office for Rail and Road. In addition to the bus, rail replacement and Event Connect operations, the deal will see four train operating companies become part of Transport UK Group.
The management buyout is being led by Abellio UK MD Dominic Booth, who describes himself as having “been a railwayman all my life.” In a statement, Abellio says that the sale has come about after NS decided to concentrate on rail services in, to and from the Netherlands. NS will continue to support Transport UK Group during a transition period, it adds.
Mr Booth says that transfer of what is currently the Abellio UK business is expected to be complete by the end of 2022. After that, the new owners “will focus all our energies and expertise on continuing to deliver the best possible services for our passengers, investing in our train and bus routes, and helping to develop a future-ready, low-emission UK transport network.”
He adds: “Our wish to buy the company from NS demonstrates our confidence in the existing Abellio UK team, both in our head office and on the ground. It is the dedication of our 15,000 employees, together with a continuity of management, that will ensure our new company is a great success.”
Transport UK Group hopes to grow from its legacy position, Mr Booth continues. Abellio UK has long advocated the introduction of bus re-regulation outside the capital, while the Abellio London Bus operation has expanded strongly in recent years and now runs around 850 buses in the capital. It also worked with TfL to debut the Future Bus concept on route 63 in late 2021.
