Arriva plc

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< Deutsche Bahn AG < Arriva plc
Arriva-2018-DB-tag.svg

Arriva is a multi-national public transport company, owned by Deutsche Bahn since Aug.2010. Arriva operates bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus services in 14 countries across Europe. In Mar.2019, Deutsche Bahn announced they wished to sell Arriva, but the sale was placed on hold in Nov.

Arriva operates through 3 divisions: UK Bus, UK Rail and Mainland Europe.ref

Bus and Coach

Arriva UK BusOpenCorporates-sm.svg runs a range of transport services including trains, buses, trams, coaches, waterbuses and non-emergency patient transport. It is one of the UK’s top three bus operators, with a market share of 18% in London and 15% in the English regional market.ref
ToDo: Arriva Bus, Arriva Bus.arch, link, link, Arriva Regions

Trains

Arriva UK Trains LtdOpenCorporates-sm.svg operates a number of train operating companies:
  • Arriva Rail London's London Overground concession, runs to May.2024.
  • Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru operates the majority of rail services in Wales. The Wales & Borders franchise runs from 7 Dec.07.2003 to Oct.13.2018.[104]
  • Chiltern Railways operates services on the Chiltern Main Line, franchise runs to Dec.2021.
  • CrossCountry operates long-distance cross-country routes, franchise runs to Nov.09.2019.
  • Grand Central open access operator, runs services on the East Coast Main Line. Purchased in November 2011.
  • Northern franchise, runs to Mar.31.2025

... ... CH, Arriva UK TrainsWikipedia-W.svg, Website.arch


Franchises

  • 2016: DB Arriva has been awarded the contract to operate the London Overground network. The concession, with a Investments revenue value of about € 1.8 billion, started in Nov.2016, and runs for 7.5 years with the option of a 2-year extension. DB Arriva had previously been operating the London Overground network with a joint-venture partner. AR-2016,p.165
  • 2015: Northern Rail franchise won by Arriva. Apr.2016-Mar.2025.AR-2015,p136
  • Jul.2007: CrossCountry rail franchise, the UK's most extensive rail franchise. Revenue derived from ~50% passenger fares, and ~50% from franchise support payments (which reduce over time to ??). 131 stations over 1,650 route miles. Nov.2007-Mar.2016. Extended for 43 months to Oct.2019, with higher revenue support payments of €41m.ref,p.156
  • Dec.2003: Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru: began operating the new integrated Wales and Borders franchise, with a fleet of 116 trains. The 15-year Arriva Trains/Trenau Arriva Cymru franchise (Dec.2003-Nov.2018) provides inter-urban, rural and commuter passenger rail services throughout Wales and the border counties. Contracts directly with the Welsh Assembly govt.
  • Feb.2000: Arriva Trains Northern franchise (Feb.2000-Oct.2004) provides inter-urban, rural and commuter passenger rail services across the North of England. It operates ~1,200 train services every day.

arrival.nl, noordned.nl, arriva.dk, arrivatog.dk, arriva.se, arriva.co.uk, arrivabus.co.uk, arrivatrainswales.co.uk, arrivarental.co.uk (from AR-2004)


Patient Transport

Arriva Transport Solutions provides non-emergency ambulance services, typically to convey disabled patients to and from hospital out-patient appointments. These services, formerly provided by ambulance services, are now awarded by competitive tender. Arriva has been running these services in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Rutland since 2012.

A report by the Care Quality Commission in 2014 said that patients were "often" arriving late for appointments, and taxi drivers with "poor attitudes" being used when other resources were unavailable.ref Following its successful bid over the rival North West ambulance service for non–emergency transport in Greater Manchester, Arriva admitted it had submitted incorrect performance figures which had earned it a £1.5m bonus. Arriva had been the subject of many complaints about its service. Comparisons were drawn with misreporting in the Serco scandal and MPs said the Serious Fraud Office may need to be involved.ref Website.arch

Timeline

ToDo: AR-2005-AR-2009, Presentations 2003-2010, Regulatory News, Corporate News

Deutsche Bahn ownership

  • Mar.2019: Deutsche Bahn announced that it would be selling Arriva through either a sale or possible public flotation, and invited interested companies to register expressions of interest,ref but by mid-November the sale was placed on hold.ref
  • Jan.2018:
    Arriva-2018.svg
    Arriva refreshed its identity and changed its logo.ref,ref
  • Feb.2016: Autotrans Group: a majority stake of 78.34% in the Croatian bus operator was acquired.AR-2017
  • Oct.2016: Autos Carballo SL, operating bus services in northern Spain, was acquired.AR-2016,p.32
  • Oct.2016: CSAD MHD Kladno as was acquired. The company operates services in the west of the Czech Republic.AR-2016
  • mid.2016: SAVDA Autoservizi Valle d’Aosta SpA, a bus company in Aosta Valley, Italy, was acquired. The company operates around half of the bus services in the region, private hire services and long-distance routes.AR-2016
  • Dec.2015: KM SpA: the remaining 51% of the outstanding shares were acquired in the operator of bus service in and around the city of Cremona.ref.AR-2015
  • Nov.2015: Alpetour Potovalna agencija dd: 97.87% of the shares were acquired. Aleptour operates in Kranj, Slovenia. The outstanding 2.13% of shares were acquired in Feb.2016.AR-2015
  • Jul.2015: Bus Partners Services sro, operating in Bratislava, Slovakia, was acquired.AR-2015
  • Jun.2015: Gotfri spol sro, operating in Bratislava, Slovakia, was acquired.AR-2015
  • Jan.2014: Arriva Malta Ltd, the Maltese operations, was sold to the Govt of Malta.ref
  • Feb.2014: CUP TOUR bus sro, operating in Příbram, Czech Republic, was acquired.AR-2014,p135
  • Sept.2014: The Original London Sightseeing Tour Ltd was sold to French state-owned RATP GroupWikipedia-W.svg.ref,AR-2014,p135
  • 2014: The Office of Rail Regulation awarded Grand Central Railway with train paths for its own transport services between North-eastern England / Yorkshire and London by 2026.AR-2014 Website
  • Dec.2013: Zeta Automotive Ltd: a majority stake of 51% was acquired in the Bicester-based technology company, which supplied products enabling fleet operators to reduce fuel consumption and emissions output.AR-2013,p.72
  • Nov.2013: Probo Bus as and Abellio CZ (PT Real),ref bus operators in the Czech Republic with a fleet of ~110 vehicles, were acquired from Abellio Group.AR-2013,p.72
  • Sept.2013: Centrebus Holdings Ltd: Arriva bought out its JV partners' 56.1% stake, becoming the sole shareholder.ref,ref,AR-2013,p.72 The acquisitioin was referred to the Competition & Markets Authority.ref
  • May.2013: Sapphire, a new premium bus service, was launched. A total of 41 Sapphire buses are in service, each of which is equipped with comfortable seats, more legroom and free wireless Internet access, among other amenities.AR-2013,p.154,ref Webpage
  • May 2013: Veolia Eastern Europe (Veolia Transport Central Europe GmbH) bus operations in the Czech Republic, with 3,400 vehicles, were acquired from the French Veolia Transdev Group.AR-2013,p.72,[33],[34]
  • Jan.2013: Liyell Ltd, t/a "Midland": the West Midlands operation with a fleet of 61 buses was completed, after the Office of Fair Trading cleared the deal.ref,ref
  • 2013: London Overground Rail Operations Ltd, a JV with MTR Corporation, was extended to Nov.2016.AR-2013,p.153 Website
  • Jun.2012: Ambuline Ltd, a Birmingham-based operator of patient and social care transport, was acquired. Arriva Transport Solutions was created to hold it, and began operating two new pateint transport service contracts in Jul.2012.ref,p.61
  • Dec.2011: Arriva Scotland West bus operation was sold to famly-owned McGill's Bus Services.ref,ref,ref Arriva Scotland WestWikipedia-W.svg
  • Nov.2011: Grand Central Railway Company Ltd: GRC Holdings Ltd, its parent holdco, was acquired. GCR is an open access rail operator operating services between London and north-east England.ref,ref,[AR-Dec.2011,p.85]
  • Feb.2011:
    Shady-Deals.svg
    Arriva Deutschland was sold to a consortium of Italian railway company Ferrovie dello Stato, and Cube Transport SCA, a Luzembourg-based infrastructure fund ultimately conrolled by the French banking group Groupe BPCE.ref,[AR-Dec.2011,p.85]
  • Aug.2010:
    Deutsche-Bahn.svgDeals-All-Change.svg
    Deutsche Bahn's subsidiary DB UK Holding LtdOpenCorporates-sm.svg acquired the company after having received approval from the European Commission, granted conditionally on Deutsche Bahn disposing of its Arriva operations in Germany.ref,[25] Arriva plc was delisted from the London Stock Exchange.[23],[24],[26],[27],[28]
  • Jun.2010: Arriva RP: Deutsche Bahn acquired the JV company, Arriva Poland Sp. zoo, by purching PCC Rail SA's 50% share. The venture was renamed as Arriva RP. Website

Arriva plc

  • Dec.2008: Arriva PCC, a 50/50 JV with Polish rail carrier PCC Rail SA, commenced rail operations in Poland.[AR-2007]
  • Nov.2008: acquired a small bus company in eastern Germany, operating 79 buses.
  • Nov.2008: London and North Western Railway (LNWR), a train maintenance company and its maintenance depot in Crewe, was acquired.[AR-Dec.2008],[19]
  • Jul.2008: Empresa de Blas Y Cia SL, one of the largest contractors to the Madrid transport authority, operating 222 buses, was acquired.
  • Jul.2008: Interbus Invest, the holdco of Eurobus Invest: a stake of 80% was acquired, conditional on regulatory cleance in Slovakia, received in Jul.2008. Opoerates in the Hungarian and Slovakian bus markets. In Nov.2009, the remaining 20% was acquired.
  • May.2008: Centrebus (Holdings) Ltd was formed as a JV with Centrebus's directors, with Arriva taking a 40% shareholding. CentrebusWikipedia-W.svg
  • Apr.2008: Excel Passenger Logistics, based at Stansted Airport, and its associated companies Excel Gatwick and Flight Delay Services based at Manchester Airport, were acquired by Tellings-Golden Miller Group plc.
  • Jan.2008: Tellings-Golden Miller Group plc, a bus, coach and airport-related transport operator, was acquired. Website
  •  ??.2008:
    Flag-Germany.svg
    Sudbrandeburger Nahverkehrs, an operator of bus services in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz region in Germany, was acquired. Website
  • Nov.2007:
    Flag-Spain.svg
    Autocares Fray Escoba, a small Spanish coach operator, was acquired. [AR-Dec.2007]
  • Sept.2007:
    Flag-Italy.svg
    SPT Linea: acquired 49& of the Italian bus company operating in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, as part of a 50/50 JV with Ferrovie Nord Milano Group (FNM SpA).[AR-Dec.2007]
  • Aug.2007: Stagecoach Darlington: Stagecoach's local bus services were acquired from Cleveland Transit Ltd and Busways Travel Services Ltd, wholly owned subsidiaries of Stagecoach Group.ref
  • Aug.2007:
    Flag-Denmark.svg
    Veolia Transport Danmark AS, Denmark's second largest bus operator, was acquired.[AR-Dec.2007]
  • Feb.2007: Chase Coaches Ltd, based in Staffordshire, was acquired.[AR-Dec.2007]
  • Jan.2007:
    Flag-Germany.svg
    Osthannoversche Eisenbahnen AG: contracted to acquire 85.12% of the German bus, rail and freight company's share capital from the German federal govt, Niedersachsen and Deutsche Bahn. Operates bus and rail services in northern Germany; also owns and manages road and rail frieght operations. The bid was submitted by Arriva-Bachstein GmbH, a consortium between Arriva and transport operator Osthannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe Bachstein GmbH. The acquisition was subject to approval from the Germany authorities.
  • Jan.2007:
    Flag-Czech-Republic.svg
    Bosak Bus sro and Osnado Spol sro (Nov.2007), two Czech Republic bus operators, was acquired.
  • Dec.2006:
    Flag-Germany.svg
    Neißverkehr: acquired 80% of the bus firm, operating near the Polish border. Also acquired BB Reisen and BB Touristik, operating urban bus services in the city of Neustrelitz.
  • Dec.2006:
    Flag-Czech-Republic.svg
    Transcentrum Bus sro, a Czech Republic bus company operating to the north of Prague, was acquired.[AR-Dec.2006]
  • Dec.2006:
    Flag-Spain.svg
    Esfera, a Spanish bus operator providing school contract and private hire, with operations in the Madrid area, was acquired. Completed in Jan.2007.[AR-Dec.2006]
  • Sept.2006:
    Flag-Italy.svg
    Trieste Trasporti: increased its stake in the Italian bus network to 35% in 2005; increased to 40% in Sept.2006.[AR-2006]
  • May.2006:
    Flag-Germany.svg
    Verkehrsbetriebe Bils KG, a German bus company operating in Münsterland, was acquired.[AR-2006]
  • May.2006:
    Flag-Portugal.svg
    Barraqueiro SGPS SA: a 21.5% stake was acquired in the largest passenger transport operator in Portugal, with 2,000 buses and 18 trains. Increased to 31.5% in 2008.
  • Feb.2006: Premier Buses Ltd, holdco of MK Metro Ltd of Milton Keyes, was acquired.[AR-Dec.2006]
  • Dec.2005:
    Flag-Italy.svg
    Autostradale: the 50% shareholding in the Italian bus operator was sold.
  • Oct.2005:
    Flag-Italy.svg
    SADEM SpA: acquired an 80% stake in the bus business, operating in the Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta regions of northern Italy. In Oct.2008, acquired the remaining 20% and its subsidiary Sapav SpA, a bus company operating in Italy's Piemonte region.[AR-Dec.2005]
  • Jul.2005: Blue Bus and Coaches of Bolton, operating commercial and tendered services in Bolton and areas of Manchester, was acquired.
  • Jun.2005:
    Flag-Spain.svg
    Transportes Finnisterre: part of the Spanish operation in Galicia was sold.
  • Feb.2005:
    Flag-Italy.svg
    SAIA Trasporti Capital: increased the shareholding in the Italian bus operator from 51% to 88%. In Jan.2008, acquired the outstanding 12%.
  • Feb.2005:
    Flag-Portugal.svg
    Transportes Sul do Tejo: a 50/50 JV in Portugal with the Barraqueiro Group announced; subject to approval by the Portuguese Competition Authority, govt and financial institiutions. Denied in Nov.2005; appealed.[AR-Dec.2005]
  • Feb.2005:
    Flag-Germany.svg
    Sippel Group, a local public passenger transport operator in the Rhine-Main area, was acquired.[AR-Dec.2005]
  • Jan.2005: Sovereign Bus and Coach Company Ltd, a 45-bus operator in the Stevenage and Hatfield areas, was acquired. Competition Commission clearance was obtained in Jan.2005.[AR-Dec.2004]
  • Oct.2004:
    Flag-Germany.svg
    Regentalbahn AG: 76.9% stakeholding was bought in the Bavarian rail company from the state of Bavaria; increased to 89.8% in Dec; increased to 100% in 2006. The co mpany operated trains in Bavaria, Thuringia and Saxony.
  • Aug.2004:
    Flag-Denmark.svg
    Wulff Bus A/S, a Danish bus operator with operations in Jutland and Copenhagen, was acquired.
  • May.2004:
    Flag-Italy.svg
    Societa Autoservizi FVG SpA: a 49% interest was acquired. SAF operated bus services in the Udine area of north-eastern Italy. Arriva increased its stake to 60% in Dec.2005.
  • Apr.2004:
    Flag-Germany.svg
    Prignitzer Eisenbahn Gruppe: a 76.9% stake was acquired. PEG operates in North Rhine-Westphalia, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, with 5 train franchises. The holding was later increased to 92.9%.[AR-Dec.2004]
  • Aug.2003:
    Flag-Portugal.svg
    Transportes Urbanos de Guimaraes purchased a further 45% shareholding, taking the total to 95%.[AR-Dec.2003]
  • Sept.2003: Provident Enterprises Ltd, t/a Wilton Vehicle Rental, a Luton-based hire business with ~230 vehicles, was acquired.[AR-Dec.2003]
  • Jan.2003: Denmark: moved into the rail sector when took over the operation of two franchises serving Jutland.
  • Jul.2002:
    Flag-Italy.svg
    SAB Autoservizi Srl, Italy's largest private bus operator, was acquired from its parent company Italmobiliare by Arriva International Ltd. SAB operates to the east of Milan, principally in the Lombardy region, with a fleet of 900+ vehicles, and managing a further 400. In 2008, Arriva increased its shareholding in subsidiary SAIA Transporti to 100% .
  • Jun.2002:
    Flag-Portugal.svg
    Transportes Sul de Tejo SA: acquired a 51% majority interest from the Barraqueiro Group. TST is the leading operator of scheduled bus and coach services in the south of Lisbon, Portugal.[AR-2002] The remaining 49% was purchased in Sept.2003.[AR-Dec.2003]
  • Jan.2002:
    Flag-Spain.svg
    Autocares Mallorca SL and Donate Amenguel Ramis SL, two small bus operators in Majorca, were acquired.[AR-Dec.2002]
  • Apr.2001:
    Flag-Denmark.svg
    Combus A/S, Denmark's largest bus operator, was bought from the Kingdom of Denmark for a nominal sum by Arriva Danmark A/S. As agreed, ~50% of the loss-making operations were sold to Connex Transport AB in May.2001. Subject to European Union approval.
  • Mar.2001: London Pride Group Ltd, a sightseeing tour business, was acquired by Arriva Passenger Services Ltd.
  • Dec.2000: Wycombe Bus Company Ltd, operating in the High Wycombe area, was purchased from Go-Ahead Group plc.
  • Nov/Dec.2000:
    Flag-Portugal.svg
    Entered the Purtuguese bus market through the acquisitions of Ami-Transportes SA, Joao Carlos Soares & Pilhos SA, Viaco Costa Lino SA and Abilio da Costa Moreira SA. Bus operators in the north west of Portugal, with a combined fleet of 180 buses.[AR-Dec.2000]
  • Feb.2000: MTL Services plc (MTL), the largest unlisted bus company in the UK and the operator of two rail franchises (Northern Spirit and Merseyrail Electrics), was acquired.[AR-Dec.1999] The deal included two rail franchises, Merseyrail Electrics and Northern Spirit.[4],[15],[16] (MTL Trust Holdings > Merseyside Transport Ltd; originally part of Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive.) MTL (transport company)Wikipedia-W.svg
  • Sept.1999:
    Flag-Spain.svg
    Transportes Finisterre SA and Mercancias Ideal Gallego, two bus companies operating in Galicia, north-west Spain, were acquired.[AR-Dec.1999]
  • Jul.1999:
    Flag-Spain.svg
    Ideal Auto SA, a Spanish inter-urban bus operator, was acquired through its holdco, Mercancias Ideal Gallego SL.[AR-Dec.1999]
  • Mar.1999:
    Flag-Denmark.svg
    Bus Danmark A/S, operating in Denmark and Sweden, was acquired and subsequently integrated into the Unibus operations. Renamed as Arriva Danmark, with ~20% of the Danish bus market.[AR-Dec.1999]
  •  ??.1999:
    Flag-Netherlands.svg
    NoordNed, a train and bus JV in the Netherlands with Dutch Rail (NS Rail), marked Arriva's first entry into the rail transport market.[AR-Dec.1999] In 2003, Arriva took full ownership.[AR-Dec.2003]
  • Mar.1999: Passenger Transportation Focus: Arriva announced its decision to sell off its car leasing business, and its repositioning to focus on passenger transportation in the UK and mainland Europe. The group's contract hire, motor retailing and vehicle rental businesses were subsequently sold.[AR-Dec.1999]
    • Feb.2006: Arriva Vehicle Rental Ltd: completed disposal of the division to Northgate plc.[AR-Dec.2005],[18]
    • Oct.2002: Motor Retailing: announced a formal process for the disposal of the 35 dealerships; the businesses were sold off, completing in Jul.2003. [17]
    • Sept.2000: Motor Finance division ceased writing new business, and was discontinued.[AR-Dec.2000]
    • Jul.1999: Arriva Automotive Solutions Ltd, the contract hire business, was sold to General Motors Acceptance Corporation.[AR-Dec.1999],[8],[14]
  • Dec.1998:
    Flag-Netherlands.svg
    Veonn Group and Hanze Group, two Dutch public transport operations, were acquired. Vancom acted as the springboard for the acquisition from state-owned VSN.[AR-Dec.1998]
  • May.1998: Willhire Group Ltd, an automotive retailer based in Bury St Edmunds, was acquired.
  • Jan.1998: Bellamour Car, Van & Truck Rental Ltd, a vehicle rental business based in Taunton, was acquired.
  • Jan.1998:
    Flag-Netherlands.svg
    Vancom Nederland BV: Arriva entered the Netherlands market through the acquisition of a 75% interest in the largest privately-owned public transportation operation in Holland,[AR-Dec.1997] part of USA firm ATC/Vancom Inc.ref The remaining 25% interest was acquired in Dec.1998.[AR-Dec.1998]
  • Nov.1997:
    Arriva-1997.svg
    Arriva plc: the company rebranded itself.ref As part of the rebranding, all of Arriva's operations eventually adopted a common identity.[AR-Dec.1997]
  • Dec.1997: The Original London Sightseeing Tour Ltd, with a fleet of 81 double-decker buses, was acquired.[AR-Dec.1997]
  • Sept.1997:
    Flag-Denmark.svgFlag-Sweden.svg
    Unibus A/S: a 75.1% interest in the Copenhagen-based business was purchased. The acquisition marked Arriva's first venture outside the UK.[AR-Dec.1997],[4] The stake was increased to 91% in 1998.
  • 1997: Ford dealerships in Chippenham (Apr.) and Halifax (Jul.) were acquired as part of Ford's re-organisation of franchise territories; the Ford Birmingham operation was disposed of. A Toyota franchise was added in Worcester (Jul); Daihatsu was added (Nov.) at Cheltenham.[AR-Dec.1997]
  • 1997: Argyll Bus Group and McGill Buses, both in Clydeside, and Lucketts of Watford, were acquired.[AR-Dec.1997]
  • 1997: The company's shifting direction led to conflict in the boardroom and the ousting of founder Tom Cowie.

T Cowie

  • Aug.1996: Lathom Van Hire Ltd was acquired.[AR-Dec.1996]
  • Aug.1996: British Bus Group LtdOpenCorporates-sm.svg, parent company of British Bus plc (amongst others),OpenCorporates-sm.svg the UK's 3rd largest bus company with ~12% of the market, operating bus services throughout the UK, was acquired. The Monopolies & Mergers Commission cleared the acquisition in Mar.1997.ref,[AR-Dec.1996],[4][12] British BusWikipedia-W.svg
  • Jul.1996: North East Bus Ltd's holdco Drymona Ltd was acquired from West Midlands Travel Ltd. North East Bus operated principally in County Durham and Teesside.[AR-Dec.1996], United Automobile ServicesWikipedia-W.svg
  • Feb.1986: County Bus Holdings Ltd, operating in London, Hertfordshire and Essex, was acquired from West Midlands Travel Ltd.[AR-Dec.1996]
  • Jan.1995: South London Transport Ltd was acquired, also from the London Regional Transport authority. A fleet of 400 buses and routes in Brixton, Norwood, Croydon, and Thornton Heath. [AR-Dec.1994,p.5],[11]
  • Sept.1994: Leaside Bus Company was acquired from the London Regional Transport authority, as part of the privatisation of London bus services.[11] Added routes in North and Central London.[AR-Dec.1994,p.5]
  • Apr.1994:
    Arriva-Cowie-1993.svg
    Cowie Group plc:OpenCorporates-sm.svg the company was renamed following the retirement of Tom Cowie.
  • Mar.1994: Fleet Motor Management's vehicle contract hire and finance business was acquired from Commercial Union.
  • Aug.1993: Outsourcing: Cowie introduced the concept of total outsourcing to the contract hire industry, signing its first cocntract with Marks & Spencer.
  • May.1993: The Keep Trust motor group of 18 franchised dealerships was acquired.ref
  • Jan.1992: Centre Contracts Ltd of Edinburgh, was acquired from John Martin Holdings Ltd.[00347103 AR-Dec.1991,p.6]
  • Dec.1991: Royscot Contracts Ltd, the London-based contract hire division of the Royal Bank of Scotland, was acquired.ref,[00347103 AR-Dec.1991,p.6]
  • Dec.1991: Ringways (Hire & Leasing) Ltd, a Leeds-based business, was acquired by Cowie Financial Holdings plc.ref,[00347103 AR-Dec.1991,p.6]
  • 1991: Vehicle Rentals: Cowie expanded into vehicle rentals and leasing, including buses and motor coaches.
  •  ??.1987: Heron Group was acquired.ref
  • 1988: Hughes DAF Ltd, a bus and coach sales dealership and finance operation based near Leeds, was acquired.[AR-Dec.1988]
  • Sept.1987: Marley Vehicle Leasing was acquired.ref
  • 1984: The Hangar Group, a large vehicle leasing business t/a Interleasing, was acquired. In 1999, the company was sold to General Motors Acceptance Corporation as part of the larger sale of Cowie's Vehicle Hire business.ref
  • 1985: Transport Act 1985 broke up the old National Bus Company and privatised it, one subsidiary at a time. A variety of fates were in store. Some companies were sold to their management teams or employees, while others were bought by entrepreneurs. It wasn’t long before a number of groupings started to form. Some of the newly privatised bus companies started to acquire other operators, and some started to change hands. One of these emergent new groups became British Bus plc.
  • May.1982: T Cowie plc: the company re-registered as a public company.[Cert. May.1982]

  • Jun.1980:
    Grey-Green-Coaches.svg
    Grey-Green Coaches Ltd:OpenCorporates-sm.svg Cowie held a 30% stake in the George Ewer Group, one of Britain’s largest coach operators; the Ewer Group owned the Grey-Green fleet of motor coaches with operations in London, as well as Orange Luxury Coaches. Cowie acquired >51% of George Ewer after a struggle, gaining control. The acquisition marked the first foray into bus sector.ref,ref,ref,ref
  • Jun.1980: George Ewer & Company Ltd: the George Ewer Group was acquired after a protracted struggle, and formed the basis of a new Coach and Travel division.[AR-Sept.1980,p.5]

  • Jan.1980: Red Dragon Securities Ltd, the group's banking wing, was sold to Avco Financial Services Ltd. The Board had made the decision to curtail activities in the field of finance.[AR-Sept.1980,p.4]
  • Aug.1978: Appleyards of Barnsley Ltd, a B.L. dealership, ws acquired.[AR-Sept.1978, p.4]
  • Mar.1978: Pollard and Critchley Ltd, a Fiat dealership was acquired.[AR-Sept.1978, p.4]
  • Jul.1976: Salmon and Jones Ltd, Ford main dealers in Stoke-on-Trent, was acquired. Assets were transferred to T Cowie Ltd; the company continued trading as "Cowies of Stoke".[AR-Sept.1976, p.6]
  • Feb.1975: Renault main dealership held by Northumbia Motors Ltd in Newcastle upon Tyne was sold to the North Eastern Co-operative Society Ltd. The disposal was made as a condition of an agreement made with the Ford Motor Company at the time of Cowie's appointment as their main dealers for Sunderland in 1972.[AR-Sept.1974, p.18]
  • Dec.1973: Kirbys Ltd, Chrysler main dealers in Liverpool, Birkenhead, Maghull and Southport, was acquired from Mercantile Credit Company Ltd. The company was renamed to Cowie-Kirby Ltd in Feb.1974.[AR-Sept.1973]
  • Acquisitions 1960-1973: AR-Sept.1973, p.4
  • 1972: Cowie Contract Hire was formed, which became the largest contract hire business in the UK.ref
  • 1970s: Cowie continued adding dealerships and showrooms, moving into the Midlands region. Cowie also built up Red Dragon Securities, an automobile financing business.
  • 1965: Vauxhall Car Dealership was acquired.ref
  • Dec.1964:
    Arriva-Cowie-1960s.svgLondon-Stock-Exchange.svg
    T Cowie Ltd was floated on the London Stock Exchange.ref

Origins

  • 1963: Motorcycle Exit: after a visit to Japan, Cowie was so impressed at their methods that he ordered his manager to get rid of all the motorcycles in stock: their day was over.ref
  • 196?: Broadwood Finance was founded, a hire purchase venture.
  • 1960: JR Alexander, an Edinburgh dealer, was acquired.
  • 1950: Cowie added a new automobile retailing operation, which quickly overtook the company's original motorcycle business in sales. Cowie's automobile sales leaned heavily toward the lease-to-own and corporate markets.
  • 1948: After the War, the business was re-launched by Tom Cowie, the founder's son, still selling motorcycles.ref
  • Dec.1938: T Cowie LtdOpenCorporates-sm.svg was founded by Tom SK Cowie (Tom Cowie's father), as a 2nd-hand motorcycle dealer.ref
  • 1920s: Tom Cowie started out his working life repairing and selling motorcycles for his father, in the backyard of the family home in Sunderland.
Sources: link, Arriva Bus: Our History, Arriva Group, Arriva plc: Companies House, Arriva Timeline (1980-2013), [Reports.arch]

Articles

  • Jan.02.2020: ‘Nightmare’ Northern Rail deal to be torn up. The govt promised to terminate the contract held by Northern Rail, run by German company Arriva, over timetabling problems and the late introduction of new trains. It will either be renationalised or the operator will be given a new short-term contract under new terms. Grant Shapps’s comments were made amid anger over a rise in train fares across Britain from today, with 2.7 per cent being added to the price of a ticket. Graeme Paton, The Times.
  • Jun.01.2018: Northern axes trains as RMT calls for transport secretary to resign. Train operator Northern has axed 165 daily services until the end of July to improve reliability amid major disruption. An “interim timetable” will be introduced on Monday with 165 trains removed – 6% of Northern’s total services. Northern said it would still run more trains than it did before last month’s timetable change and it expected to “get back to a full timetable service by the end of July”. The announcement came as the head of the RMT union called on transport secretary Chris Grayling to resign after the chaos. Govia Thameslink and Northern have cancelled or delayed thousands of services. Grayling provoked anger by seeking to place all the blame for the timetable troubles on Network Rail. Mark Carne, Network Rail’s chief executive, said there was no doubt the May timetable was finalised “significantly later than normal for reasons that were both within and without our control”. Manfred Rudhart, the chief executive of Arriva, the parent company of Northern, told the Times the disruption could continue for another two months. Even before the introduction of the new timetable, the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, had demanded an inquiry into Northern’s “unacceptably poor” services. Last week, he was joined by Steve Rotheram, the mayor of the Liverpool city region, in calling for Northern to be stripped of its franchise if it failed to improve. The MP Lilian Greenwood said she would ask the Commons transport select committee which she chairs to review the situation on both networks on Monday, which could lead to a full parliamentary inquiry. Frances Perraudin, The Guardian.