Has the United States become the new El Dorado for French bus operators? We can believe it, since the main French players such as RATP, Keolis and Transdev are multiplying contracts (and acquisitions) on the other side of the Atlantic. From North Carolina to Florida to California, French operators have earned the trust of several major cities.
Transdev expands its network in the United States…
At the top of the list, Transdev, a 66% subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and the German Rethmann, which has already distinguished itself by buying the giant First Transit at the end of 2022 for an amount kept secret.
Thanks to this acquisition, Transdev doubled its size in this region and claimed the title of the leading public transport operator in North America. And it continues to accelerate since announcing that it has been selected by the authority Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada through First Transit. This represents 40 million trips a year that are made in the south of the State, thanks to 400 vehicles.
The French group has also been awarded an operation and maintenance contract in Orlando, Florida, to provide transportation services for people with reduced mobility.
… and in Canada
In Canada, Transdev has just won four urban transport contracts with EXO, the public mobility authority for Greater Montreal (outside Montreal). They will be operational in a year and will represent a turnover of 40 million euros per year.
The group has also strengthened its position in medical and school transport in this country with the acquisition Kunkel Bus Lines, an Ontario-based school bus company, Priority Patient Transfer Service, a non-emergency medical transportation company in the Ottawa area and Patient Transport Services, a non-emergency medical transportation company in the Winnipeg, Brandon and Carman areas.
The global activity of the group in the American continent now amounts to almost 2,800 million euros.
Keolis Goes Strong in California, RATP in North Carolina
On the side of Keolis, a subsidiary of SNCF, it is in California where it is happening with the award of a 4-year bus operation contract in Orange County, one of the main regions of Los Angeles (209 buses). At the same time, the operator benefits from a four-year renewal of its contract with Foothill Transit, in the suburbs of Los Angeles (Pomona network).
Keolis has been present in the United States since 2010, operating in 21 cities. The Group employs around 5,000 people there.
Ultimately, RATP through its subsidiary RATP Dev USA won two new 5-year bus O&M contracts in North Carolina, in Durham and around Raleigh.
The company currently operates 40 public transportation systems in the United States in 16 different states.
Source: BFM TV
