The company responsible for the running of Merseyrail is set to be taken over by a new UK-run transport organisation.
A management buyout from the state-owned rail company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen will pave the way for a new UK-based company to take over all Abellio UK’s existing services, serving millions of rail and bus passengers in Merseyside, London, the Midlands and East Anglia. The new company will be called Transport UK Group Limited.
Led by current Abellio managing director Dominic Booth, the buyout deal is subject to formal approval from partners including the Department for Transport, Transport for London and Merseytravel as well as regulatory consent from the Office for Rail and Road. After 20 years in the UK Nederlandse Spoorwegen has decided to withdraw from the UK market to focus on domestic service provision within, and international railway services to and from, the Netherlands.
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Abellio UK is responsible for running four of the UK’s rail passenger services – East Midlands, West Midlands, Greater Anglia and Merseyrail - as well as being the fastest growing operator in the London bus network. Merseyrail is a 50:50 joint venture between Abellio and Serco.
Speaking about the proposed buyout, Mr Booth said: “I’ve been a railwayman all my life. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return key public transport services back into UK ownership at a time when some of our competitors look destined for overseas ownership.
"We expect the business to transfer by the end of the year, following which we will focus all our energies and expertise on continuing to deliver the best possible services for our passengers, investing in our train and bus routes, and helping to develop a future ready, low emission UK transport network."
He added: “Our wish to buy the company from Nederlandse Spoorwegen demonstrates our confidence in the existing Abellio UK team, both in our Head Office and on the ground. It’s the dedication of our 15,000 employees, together with a continuity of management, that will ensure our new company is a great success. We are grateful for the support and backing that we have received from Nederlandse Spoorwegen to date, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with them to manage this process to a successful conclusion.”
Bert Groenewegen, acting CEO of Nederlandse Spoorwegen, which will continue to support the new company during a transition period, said today: “After a successful 20 years in the UK passenger transport market, NS is proud to support this natural next step for Abellio UK as it transitions with our blessing into a new management owned passenger transport group.”
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which runs the region's transport body, said Merseyrail services will continue as normal following the announcement. A spokesperson said: ""Passengers should expect services on the Merseyrail network to continue as usual following today’s announcement concerning the proposed management buyout. The Combined Authority will continue to work collaboratively with relevant parties to provide the best possible services for the city region and undertake appropriate due diligence to ensure the suitability of the new arrangements before providing its approval.”
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