Keolis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Keolis is the largest private sector French transport group with approximately a third of the urban French transport market. With its origins in Lyon in is now based in Paris. The company is majority owned by 3i, the UK listed venture capital company, whilst SNCF, the French state rail operator, is a significant minority shareholder.
Keolis is the world’s leading operator of automatic metros and a significant operator of tramways as will as operating bus networks, funiculars and trolley buses. In the UK it is a minority partner in the Govia rail operating company with Go-Ahead Group. Govia currently operates the Southern and Southeastern franchises and previously operated the Thameslink franchise, however this was transferred to First Group in April 2006. Keolis itself also operates the Transpennine Express rail franchise in partnership with First Group.
In summer 2005 it was shortlisted by Docklands Light Rail Ltd, a subsidiary of Transport for London, as one of two companies who are bidding to operate the new Docklands Light Railway franchise. However, it lost out to the incumbent operator, Serco Group. Keolis is the preferred bidder for the operation of Merseytram should the Liverpool tramway ever be built.
Keolis operates several railways in Romania: Braşov-Zărneşti, Braşov-Întorsura Buzăului, Blaj-Praid, Sfântu Gheorghe-Breţcu and Sighişoara-Odorheiu Secuiesc, on tracks owned by the state railway company, Căile Ferate Române.
