‘Big bang’ deal marks DB’s Arrival

Deutsche Bahn’s £1.6bn purchase of Arriva has made it a major player in the European passenger transport market. It also marks a trend toward a more globalised business.

Deutsche Bahn chief executive Rüdiger Grube

Deutsche Bahn chief executive Rüdiger Grube

Deutsche Bahn, the state-owned German transport operator, has long been regarded as the slumbering giant of the European passenger transport industry. While it has expanded freight operations significantly across Europe, it has lagged well behind its rivals in its expansion into new passenger bus and rail markets. No more. With its £1.6bn takeover of Arriva, expected to be completed in August, DB has arrived.

It will transform itself at a stroke into a pan-European transport group with...