VR Group has announced its acquisition of Arriva Sverige – currently part of the European passenger transport company Arriva Group that is owned by Deutsche Bahn (DB).
With this acquisition, VR Group will become a significant transport operator in Sweden, as Arriva Sverige operates rail and bus services in southern and southeastern Sweden, including the capital Stockholm.
As Sweden’s third-largest train operator and fourth-largest bus operator, Arriva Sverige has roughly 3,800 staff and transports more than 170 million passengers a year. Its revenues reached over 300m euros (329.57m USD) last year.
Climate-friendly public transport is growing and VR Group believes this acquisition will strengthen its position within clean urban transport.
It has previously expanded its operations in Helsinki and Tampere and its bus company Pohjolan Liikenne has over 185 electric buses across Finland. It now aims to invest in the electrification of the Swedish bus market.
“As a veteran in the transport business and a pioneer in climate-friendly commuting services VR Group can provide Arriva Sverige with great growth opportunities. We look forward to the opportunity to utilise VR Group's expertise and to develop our electric bus traffic together with VR Group.”
This acquisition will also enable VR Group to enter a tendering market that’s much larger in size than Finland and that continues to grow alongside population growth, urbanisation and public investments in infrastructure.
“As the Finnish market for public transport opens, the competition will increase and ensuring VR Group’s competitiveness will be crucial… Our strategy is now to grow in the opening urban transport market in the Nordics.”
The acquisition is expected to be completed in early July subject to approvals, including those from the German Ministry for Digital and Transport and the DB Supervisory Board.
