Arriva Group has completed the acquisition of RTS Infrastructure, marking its entry into the UK rail infrastructure construction market. The move broadens Arriva’s service portfolio to include design, build and maintenance operations, supported by a new rail depot near Leeds.
The deal transfers RTS’s existing maintenance and infrastructure contracts to Arriva, adding depth to its UK Trains division and strengthening its order book. The Leeds depot, leased as part of the agreement, extends Arriva’s network capacity for overnight servicing of rail vehicles and enhances operational efficiency for train operators nationwide.
RTS Infrastructure, headquartered in Leeds, delivers depot servicing and rail construction projects, including platform upgrades and track alterations, across the UK. Holding a Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence, the company’s expertise adds new technical capabilities to Arriva’s offering.
Amanda Furlong, Managing Director of Arriva UK Trains and member of the Arriva Executive Committee, said: “This acquisition is an important investment for the Arriva Group and underlines our commitment to the UK rail industry, building our position within it. RTS Infrastructure not only strengthens our depot capacity, but brings valuable construction and infrastructure capability in-house and enhances our competitiveness in the rail sector. This deal is crucial to our strategy to diversify in the UK rail market and operate more flexibly in a changing policy and commercial environment.”
The transaction aligns with Arriva’s long-term growth strategy to diversify revenue streams and build resilience in the UK rail sector. It follows the group’s wider European investments in fleet, infrastructure, and digital innovation. All RTS Infrastructure employees and client contracts will remain unchanged as the business integrates into the Arriva Group.
