Deutsche Bahn has East Coast rail line in its sights
Oct 21 2010 by Karen Dent, The Journal
THE German public transport giant which now owns Arriva and operates the Metro hasn't ruled out adding the East Coast Main Line to its growing European empire when the franchise comes up for tender.
The Deutsche Bahn (DB) group paid £1.6bn for Sunderland-based bus and rail company Arriva at the end of August and began operating the Tyne and Wear Metro on behalf of Nexus on April 1.
Ulrich Homburg, head of DB’s passenger transport division and the new Arriva chairman, admitted the company was interested in the East Coast Main Line during a whistle-stop visit to the region yesterday.
He came to Newcastle from St Pancras Station in London where he unveiled DB’s ICE train which the company hopes to run through the Channel Tunnel from 2012/13.
He said: “We are interested generally in franchises in the UK. We will look at every franchise that comes on the market.”
David Martin, who remains Arriva chief executive, said the East Coast Main Line decision would come down to risk-reward.
“If we can make a profit and meet the operational demands, we will put a robust bid in,” he said.
Homburg, making his second visit to the region since DB began running the Metro, was keen to reassure Arriva staff that their futures were secure.
