Abellio UK and its Dutch shareholder Nederlandse Spoorwegen have completed a management buyout, signed in August 2022, after receiving all formal approvals required.
Following the completion of this complex deal, the new company, Transport UK Group Ltd (TUK), will take over all Abellio UK’s existing services, serving millions of rail and bus passengers in London, Liverpool, the Midlands and East Anglia. TUK will operate East Midlands, West Midlands, Greater Anglia and over 60 London bus routes.
The company will also operate Merseyrail in partnership with Serco. In the short term, the Abellio brand will remain in operation for parts of the business, including Abellio London Bus, but under the TUK group.
Under its new name, TUK remains committed to playing a vital, long-term role in the future of UK rail and bus services, ensuring that it delivers on passenger needs and provides a sustainable, safe, and reliable travel experience. The company will also continue to provide its voice and extensive knowledge to help shape the debate on UK rail industry reform, focusing on driving innovation and working with all governmental and industry bodies to shape and implement a future-ready, low-emission UK transport network.
The deal was led by Managing Director Dominic Booth, who has decades of experience running public transport services in the UK.
He said: “We are thrilled to return key public transport services back into UK ownership. While our name will change to Transport UK Group, our values remain the same. We will continue to play a key role in the country’s transport sector, ensuring the provision of our award-winning services to passengers around the UK and driving innovation to develop a low-emission UK transport network.”
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