Arriva UK Bus expands London operations with two new contracts

Credit: Arriva UK Bus

Arriva UK Bus has announced that it has been awarded two new contracts to operate bus routes by Transport for London (TfL) in addition to retaining seven contracts as part of its existing London operations.

In addition, Arriva is set to invest in 87 new electric buses, comprising 76 double deckers and 11 single deckers, to enhance its London fleet. The company is also actively converting its Thornton Heath garage in Croydon into a fully electrified facility, providing zero-emission capability for over 100 buses in South London. This follows the successful electrification of its Brixton Tramshed in November 2021, which currently operates 35 fully electric buses.

Arriva, managing 14 depots across London and serving approximately 100 contracted routes on behalf of TfL, is accelerating its electrification programme in alignment with the Mayor of London’s ambitious goal to make all bus transport in the city zero-emission by 2030.

Thornton Heath is anticipated to be fully electrified in early 2024, and preparations are underway to equip the Enfield depot for electric vehicle charging as well. Tottenham is expected to join the electrification efforts by mid-2024.

Deutsche Bahn AG signs agreement to sell Arriva Group

TfL has awarded Arriva these contracts as part of its initiative to make public transport in the UK capital more environmentally friendly and to address concerns related to road traffic pollution. The two newly acquired routes, set to commence operations in August 2024, along with the seven retained routes, are projected to generate over £200 million in revenue throughout the contract term.

Jens Abromeit, Managing Director of Arriva UK Bus and Arriva Board Member, said: “Growing the number of routes we operate is a growth story for London, and we can’t wait to welcome the new fully electric buses, growing the size of our zero-emission fleet in London to nearly 230.”

Marcos Hart, Managing Director of Arriva London, said: “The new vehicles represent a fantastic milestone on our journey to operate a greener bus network across London and it’s really exciting news for us as a business and for our customers.”

Arriva UK Bus, as the third-largest provider of bus services in regional markets outside London, plays a pivotal role in rural, urban and inter-urban transportation services. In London, the company operates around 17% of all bus services in the capital, positioning itself as a market leader in the region.