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RATP Group acquires the Manchester tram operating company

Posted: 2 August 2011 | Maitland | No comments yet

RATP Dev, acquired the company responsible for the operation and maintenance of Metrolink…

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RATP Dev, on 1 August 2011, acquired from Stagecoach the company responsible for the operation and maintenance of Metrolink, the tram network in Manchester.

“Metrolink is one of the UK’s most successful tram networks, so we are naturally delighted to join with the existing team to be able to bring our expertise and know-how to continue its further development,” commented Paul Matthews, CEO of RATP Dev UK. “Metrolink is now embarking upon a significant phase of expansion which presents us with plenty of opportunities to assist in producing a world class tramway of which the City can be rightfully proud”.

The Manchester tram network, currently with 4 lines, carries around 21 million passengers each year. Transport for Greater Manchester, the city’s transport authority has ambitious plans for further significant growth through line extensions and new lines.

This transaction consolidates RATP Dev’s development strategy in the UK. Following the company’s takeover in March this year of London United, Bournemouth Transport Limited and Bath Bus Company, RATP Dev now has over 3000 employees in the UK (with a total turnover of around £ 200 million).

As a multimodal operator, RATP Group has strong expertise in tram operation; in the Paris region it operates and continues to develop its network (currently three lines, and seven lines by 2014 ), which will make it the third biggest tram network operator in Europe in terms of traffic. In addition, in Italy, the Group has been operating the first tram line in the Florence network since February 2010 and it will soon operate lines two and three.

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