Transdev, formerly Veolia Transdev, is a France-based international private-sector company which operates public transport.[3] It has operations in 17 countries and territories as of November 2020.[4]
Transdev was formed on 3 April 2011 via the merger of Veolia Transport and Transdev S.A., being initially equally owned by Veolia Environnement and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), the former soon announced plans to divest its holding in the business. Early priorities of Transdev were to largely focus upon its four core markets (France, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States) while disposing of its less profitable ventures based in most other countries to consolidate. At the time of merger, Transdev operated in 27 countries to varying extents. During January 2019, Veolia sold on its remaining 30% shareholding in Transdev to the Rethmann Group; the company has since integrated some of its subsidiaries with those of Transdev.
History
Transdev was formed through the merger of Veolia Transport and Transdev on 3 April 2011.[5] Veolia Environnement and Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) had 50% shareholdings. It was initially planned for the company to be sold by an initial public offering, potentially accompanied by a rebranding, within 12 months of the merger.[3]
On 6 December 2011, Veolia Environment, seeking to reduce debt and focus on its core businesses of water, waste and energy, announced a €5 bn divestment program over 2012/13 that would include a sale of its share in Veolia Transdev within two years.[6] At the time of the announcement, Veolia Transdev declared its intention to concentrate on four main markets (France, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States), to develop its presence in the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia and to divest from other countries and other activities amounting to about 9–10% of global revenue in 2012/13. After this announcement, the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, for its part, officially reiterated its commitment to Veolia Transdev and its continued support as a shareholder to the group's development.[7]
During early 2012, it was reported that Cube Infrastructure, a fund controlled by the French bank Natixis (Groupe BPCE), was likely to acquire about half of Veolia's stake in Transdev. The Caisse des Dépôts would take over the other half.[8] In October 2012, this was later changed to Caisse des Dépôts acquiring 10% of the shares from Veolia.[9] However, this reported acquisition was not implemented. Following the sale of Transdev subsidiary SNCM in late 2015, CDC and Veolia continued talks about selling Veolia's stake in the joint venture.[10] In December 2016, CDC finally bought 20% shares from Veolia.[11] As a result, Veolia's share became 30% while CDC's share became 70%.
In October 2018, Veolia announced its intention to sell its remaining 30% shareholding to the Rethmann Group.[12] The transaction was completed during January 2019, with Rethmann increasing its shareholding to 34% by adding its Rhenus Veniro subsidiary to the Transdev portfolio.[13]
In December 2024, it was announced that Rethmann Group planned to increase its shareholding to 66% with Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations' to reduce its to 34%.[14]
Operational history
At the time of merger, Transdev operated in the following 27 countries.[15] In 2014, the operations at the time were organised into seven geographical areas (struckthrough countries' operations have already ceased):[16]
In 2013, CEO Jérôme Gallot confirmed that Veolia Transdev would consolidate its operations down to 17 countries.[17] As of November 2020, Transdev operates in 17 countries spanning across five continents.[4] The list only counts sovereign countries and therefore excludes New Caledonia (France). Jersey, a British Crown dependency and Hong Kong (China), were previously also not counted for the same reason. Veolia Transdev (and Transdev) operated MyBus operations until 2012 and Hong Kong Tramways until 2020 respectively.
Europe
Czech Republic
In December 2018, Transdev commenced operating a 10-year contract in the Moravian-Silesian Region serving Bruntál, Krnov, Nový Jičín and Rýmařov.[23][24] Transdev had previously operated buses in the Czech Republic until they were sold to Arriva in May 2013 (see Central Europe section below). During August 2019, Transdev acquired the 3CSAD Group that also operated in the Moravian-Silesian Region with 410 buses to become the fourth largest bus operator in the Czech Republic.[25]
France
North America
Transdev North America, formerly Veolia Transportation until August/September 2014, is the North American business unit of Transdev. It operates a number of public transport services across the United States and Canada.
Other North American operations inherited from the old Transdev (Limocar) were never part of Veolia Transportation and therefore are not part of Transdev North America.
On 26 October 2022, Transdev has signed an agreement to acquire First Transit, Inc.[99][100] On 7 March 2023, Transdev completed the acquisition of First Transit, all current First Transit contracts are now operating under the Transdev brand.[101]
Canada
Transdev Canada is the Transdev subsidiary in Canada and it has the following operations:
Oceania
Australia and New Zealand
Veolia Transport's predecessor CGEA entered the Australian market in 1998 when it formed a joint venture to purchase the Sydney Monorail and operate the Sydney Light Rail. The old Transdev entered the Australian market during 2001 with the purchase of Shorelink in Sydney's North Shore. Connex entered the New Zealand market in 2004 when it won the tender to operate rail services in Auckland.
Transdev's operations in both countries are under one subsidiary, Transdev Australasia. Transdev Australasia operates:
Transdev Australasia operated South West Coach Lines in Western Australia until 2015, Transdev Brisbane Ferries until November 2020 and Transdev Melbourne buses until January 2022. The contract to run a third of Melbourne suburban bus routes was transferred to the Kinetic Group on 31 January 2022.[133]
- Australia
- Transdev John Holland
Asia
As of 2021, Transdev does not operate in Asia. Transdev's most recent operations were through its joint venture RATP Dev Transdev Asia until Transdev sold its share in October 2020.
Former Operations
China, Hong Kong, South Korea, India and Philippines
RATP Dev Transdev Asia (RDTA) is a joint venture between Transdev and RATP Group created in 2009 between Veolia Transport and RATP Dev. It was originally named Veolia Transport RATP Asia (VTRA) until the Transdev global rebranding in 2013.[137] RATP Dev took over full ownership of RDTA in October 2020.[138][139]
South America
Colombia
Transdev, in conjunction with three other operators, runs an 84 km right-of-way bus line of TransMilenio system in Bogotá under the name Connexion Móvil. The contract started in 2000, and was recently extended until December 2023.[19][152]
In May 2018, Cable Movil, a consortium consisting of Transdev Chile and Fanalca, won the contract to operate the new TransMiCable cable car operation in Bogotá, starting from December 2018 for a period of 5.5 years with a possible 2.5 year extension.[153]
Chile
Transdev operates Redbus Urbano in Santiago, Chile. It is Transdev's largest bus urban networks with revenues of more than 70 million euros in 2012.
Africa
Morocco
Transdev operates the Rabat–Salé tramway, at the time the first modern light rail service in Morocco, since May 2011.[155] Prior to Veolia Transdev's rebranding to Transdev in 2013, the tramway was operated under the old Transdev's name and logo.[156] Transdev's contract to operate the tramway was renewed for another 10 years starting January 2020.[157]
External links
References
- Transdev governance transdev.com, Transdev Group, n.d., retrieved 2025-04-07^
- Financial Report 2022 veoliatransdev.com, 9 March 2023, retrieved 27 October 2023^
- Fabrice Amedeo. Veolia-Transdev nouveau leader du transport