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			Arriva is one of the largest rail transport services organisations in Europe.
		The Arriva Trains Wales network stretches from Manchester, through north and south Wales and across to Birmingham and Gloucester – over 1,000 miles of track in total. In the UK Arriva Trains Wales provides inter-urban, rural and commuter services throughout Wales and the English border counties as well as the new Cross Country franchise stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff covering around 1,500 route miles and calling at over 100 stations. Arriva is one of the UK's largest bus operators, with operations in the North East, North West and South East of England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Scotland and Wales. Arriva operate virtually all train services in Wales and from November 2007 will run the new CrossCountry rail franchise. Using the RailEasy™ train ticket price checker and reservation service to complete an online Arriva train ticket reservation, whether it is for the cheapest or a more expensive fare with the added comfort of first class travel, is quick and easy. Rail Saver will find you the cheapest available Arriva Trains train ticket price and book your Arriva train tickets in a few quick easy steps using the Rail Easy™ price check and Rail Saver booking engine.

More About Arriva Trains

Arriva Trains, the Group’s UK Trains division, is responsible for the management and development of Arriva’s rail businesses in the UK. It has offices in Leeds and London.

Arriva Cross Country Trains

Arriva submitted bids to the Department for Transport (DfT) for the New Cross Country, East Midlands and InterCity East Coast rail franchise competitions. In July 2007 the Department for Transport announced its decision to award Arriva the new Cross Country rail franchise.

The Cross Country network is the most extensive rail franchise in the UK. Stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance, and from Stansted to Cardiff, it covers around 1,500 route miles and calls at over 100 stations. Arriva will run the franchise under a new CrossCountry brand and livery from 11 November 2007.

Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru

Arriva began operating the new 15- year integrated Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru franchise in December 2003. The franchise provides inter-urban, rural and commuter passenger rail services throughout Wales and the English border counties.

The network stretches from Manchester through north and south Wales and across to Birmingham and Gloucester operating a fleet of 120 trains covering a route of over 1,009 miles.

Each year Arriva trains travel some 13.7 million miles. The business is supported by 2,000 employees and Arriva manage 237 stations of which 53 are staffed.

Arriva Trains Wales has worked closely with the Welsh Assembly Government to obtain funding for several projects that deliver improvements for Arriva customers. They include:

• £1 million for North Wales station improvements
• a £2 million investment in CCTV on its entire train fleet
• improvements to Cardiff Bay Station and increased services from Cardiff Bay, and
• a £50 million investment over the life of the franchise to fund additional rolling stock to accommodate high demand on the Valley Line network.
As part of the franchise, we have successfully introduced a new timetable which is delivering improved performance for Arriva customers adding:
• an additional 950 services a week across the network including a new two-hourly service linking north and south Wales
• 1,000 extra seats a day on peak time Cardiff Valley services.

In December 2006, Arriva introduced 11 modern Coradia trains. They operate between Cardiff and Holyhead and West Wales and Manchester and have boosted seat capacity by 10 per cent.

The company is also investing £1.25 million in Chester Station, a major hub. Improvements will include a new booking office and travel information centre, new retail outlets, improved customer information system and CCTV.

Arriva Trains Wales has had significant success with its ‘Adopt a Station’ initiative, which asks local residents, businesses and/or schools to help us monitor their local station and work with us to improve the travelling environment. Station adoptees receive travel vouchers in recognition of their assistance. More than 140 of Arriva 190 unstaffed stations are now adopted.

More About Corporate Arriva

Arriva was born in 1997, bringing together many different company backgrounds under the Arriva flag. Also in that year Arriva acquired its first business on the European mainland – Unibus Holdings in Denmark.

The roots of Arriva are in Sunderland, where the company still has its head office. Back in 1938 the Cowie family opened a second-hand motorcycle shop in Sunderland. That was the first venture by what has grown to be an international business trading in nine European countries.

In 1960 the company – still called Cowie – moved into motor retailing and in 1980 it started to purchase bus companies with the acquisition of the Grey-Green bus company in London. Over the next few years there were more bus company acquisitions, with the biggest being British Bus Group plc in 1996 making the business one of the largest bus operators in the UK.

In 1999 Arriva decided to focus its management and financial resources to enable the group to capitalise on opportunities in passenger transportation in the UK and mainland Europe. Subsequently the group successfully disposed of a number of major motor retailing and finance businesses. This process was completed by the summer of 2003 and the sale of its vehicle rental division followed in 2006.

During that time Arriva has established a position as one of the leading transport services organisations in Europe with bus and train operations in the UK, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.

In addition Arriva has bus operations in Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal and Spain and also operates a bus and coach distribution business in the UK.

• Arriva is one of the UK's largest bus operators, with operations in the North East, North West and South East of England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Scotland and Wales.
• Arriva are one of London's largest bus operators.
• Arriva operate virtually all train services in Wales and from November 2007 will run the new CrossCountry rail franchise.

Arriva Bus Operations

Arriva strong regional management teams ensure that Arriva are well placed to serve customers locally, and to work with private and public sector partners to deliver effective transport solutions.

Employees are encouraged to take part in Skills for Life training, offering both vocational and non-vocational courses at 24 depot-based Learning Centres across the UK. London employees undertake a BTEC qualification covering driving and customer care.

All of Arriva conventionally-powered buses are fuelled by ultra-low-sulphur diesel, and investment in Arriva UK bus operations approached £40 million last year.

Arriva Regional Services

• Arriva local bus services operate in major urban areas like Liverpool, Leeds, Leicester, Glasgow and Newcastle.
• Arriva also have a strong presence in the Midlands and Home Counties, with a mix of inter-urban trunk routes and market town networks.
• Arriva buses also provide important links in rural areas like north Wales.
• Recent acquisitions include Premier Buses Ltd in Milton Keynes, and Blue Bus and Coaches of Bolton.
• Arriva have celebrated Arriva one millionth customer journey through the sale of tickets at more than 16,000 PayPoint outlets, a scheme which Arriva pioneered across the UK.
• Arriva have revitalised routes across Arriva major service areas outside of London, increasing passenger numbers.
• Arriva have invested £34 million on buses, all fitted with CCTV and the very latest environmental standards.

London services

• Arriva provide nearly 20 per cent of London’s bus services under contract to Transport for London.
• Contracts involve routes, vehicles and timetables specified by TfL and are closely monitored to ensure high quality services.
• Arriva have achieved enhanced revenue under TfL’s Quality Incentive Contracts, which rewarded Arriva consistently high service levels.
• Arriva London services cover more than 50 million miles and handle nearly 330 million passenger journeys a year.
• The Original TArriva , Arriva’s sightseeing division, has invested in ten new wheelchair-accessible buses - the first in London.

Arriva Trains is responsible for the management and development of the group's rail presence in the UK . It manages bidding for franchises and works closely with industry partners. Arriva offices are in Birmingham and Leeds.

In 2003 Arriva began operating the new 15-year integrated Arriva Trains Wales/Trenau Arriva Cymru franchise, providing inter-urban, rural and commuter passenger rail services throughout Wales and the English border counties.

In July 2007 the Department for Transport announced its decision to award Arriva the new Cross Country rail franchise.

Arriva Trains Wales

The Arriva Trains Wales network stretches from Manchester, through north and south Wales and across to Birmingham and Gloucester – over 1,000 miles of track in total.

Arriva focus on delivering continuous improvement, listening to Arriva customers, and working with stakeholders to ensure Arriva franchises have the resources they need to respond to growing demand. For instance, Arriva are investing £1.25 million in improvements to Chester Station, a major hub.

Arriva work with the Welsh Assembly Government to obtain funding for service improvements. Recent projects include:

• £1 million for station improvements in north Wales.
• £2 million investment in CCTV for Arriva entire train fleet.
• Improvements to Cardiff Bay Station, and more services from Cardiff Bay.
• £50 million investment over the life of the franchise to fund additional rolling stock to accommodate high demand on the Valley Line network.
• Eleven modern Coradia trains introduced on routes between Cardiff and Holyhead, and West Wales and Manchester.

Arriva are also improving Arriva service through Arriva new timetable, which has resulted in:

• 950 extra services a week across the network.
• 1,000 extra seats a day on peak-time Cardiff Valley services.

Meanwhile, local residents are helping us improve the travelling environment through Arriva ‘Adopt a Station' initiative. To date, 140 of Arriva 190 unstaffed stations are being monitored by local people, who receive travel vouchers in return.

To view a video presentation about Arriva please click here.

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