GERMANY: The acquisition by the Austrian Federal Railways of the Go-Ahead Group’s railway activities in Germany was completed on 1 February. This follows the European Commission’s approval of the agreement announced in October.
ÖBB told Railway Gazette International that ‘with this acquisition, ÖBB is pursuing its long-term goal of further international growth. With the acquisition of Go-Ahead Deutschland, ÖBB has achieved its market entry into local passenger transport by rail in Germany. It is an important step for further growth in southern Germany.’
Go-Ahead’s German business held the Land of Baden-Württemberg’s Stuttgart Netz Lot 1b (Rems–Fils), Lot 1c (Franken-Enz) and Netz 3b Murrbahn operating contracts, and Bayern’s E-Netz Allgäu and Augsburger Netze Lot 1 contracts, with around 1 000 employees and 144 electric multiple-units.
The final touch to the transaction marks Go-Ahead’s exit from the German rail market after five years; operations will continue to use the Go-Ahead logo in the near term.
Go-Ahead Group chief executive Miguel Parras said the company had delivered new trains, excellent visitor service and increased capacity, and that the sale “is a positive outcome for both the Go-Ahead Group and our German colleagues. “
Go-Ahead is owned by Kinetic and Globalvia. It has rail operating contracts in partnership with Keolis in the UK and Norway only, and operates buses in the UK, Singapore, Ireland, Sweden and Australia. It recently decided to operate the Stockholm. Metro train in a joint venture with ComfortDelGro.
“Go-Ahead continues to pursue strategic expansion opportunities in the bus and rail sectors in markets around the world,” said Parras.
SWEDEN: Local authority Region Stockholm has selected the Connecting Stockholm joint venture of The Go-Ahead Group (55%) and ComfortDelGro (45%) to operate and maintain the Tunnelbana metro network. The preferred bidder was announced on January 23, with formal award subject to a standstill period. Go-Ahead CEO Patrick …
GERMANY: Go-Ahead Group has agreed to sell its German rail business to the passenger department of the Austrian Federal Railways, ÖBB-Personenverkehr, and is exploring long-term features for its operations in Norway. Managing Director of Go-Ahead Deutschland, Fabian Amini, stated that ÖBB “enjoys a clever reputation in Germany”. . . .
UK: Patrick Verwer has been appointed Managing Director of Rail of foreign train and bus operator The Go-Ahead Group from the end of November. Angie Doll will succeed him as chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway, where Go-Ahead operates a 65/35 joint venture. with Keolis. Verwer will take care of. . .