Arriva fails in bid for a French connection

TRANSPORT firm Arriva yesterday said talks with France's national rail operator about creating a new European industry giant had come to nothing.

Arriva said in late January that it was in the early stage of talks over a potential tie-up with "all or part" of Keolis, which is 44.5 per cent owned by SNCF. Keolis – which has the largest bus and coach fleet in France – employs 40,000 staff with operations in Europe, Algeria, Australia and Canada.

In the UK it is a minority shareholder in the Govia joint venture with Go-Ahead, which operates the Southern, Southeastern and London Midland franchises.

The intention of the talks had been to capitalise on the "increasing liberalisation" of the European transport market.