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 and 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 UK company Go-ahead. Govia operates the Southern Railway and South East Rail franchises. Until April 2006 Govia also operated the Thameslink franchise. Keolis 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, the other bidder being the current operator, Serco Docklands Limited.
Keolis is the preferred bidder for the operation of Merseytram should the Liverpool tramway ever be built.
Keolis operates two railways in Romania, between Braşov-Zărneşti and Braşov-Întorsura Buzăului, on tracks owned by the state railway company, Căile Ferate Române.
