Connexxion

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Connexxion
Company typeNaamloze vennootschap
IndustryPublic Transport, Taxi Service
Founded10 May 1999
Headquarters,
Key people
Pier Eringa (CEO)
ProductsBus Transport
Rail Transport
Ferry Service
Taxi Service
Number of employees
9,800 (2015)
ParentTransdev (86%)
Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten (14%)
Websitewww.connexxion.nl

Connexxion is a large public transport company in the Netherlands, operating in the west, middle, east and southwest parts of the country. It is owned by Transdev and Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Netherlands.

History[edit]

VDL Berkhof at Hilversum station in March 2013
GTW train near Amersfoort in July 2013
Voskhod hydrofoil in June 2009
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter taxi in September 2007

Connexxion was formed on 10 May 1999 from a merger between transport companies NZH, ZWN, Midnet and Oostnet. Its name is a mutation of the French word connexion meaning connection. In January 2007, Connexxion took over Utrecht public transport operator GVU and Nijmegen operator Novio.[1] In 2007 Connexxion's 33% shareholding in Syntus was sold.[2]

On 12 October 2007, Connexxion was privatised with a 67% stake purchased by Transdev-BNG-Connexxion Holding BV (TBCH), a consortium consisting of Transdev (75%) and Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten (BNG) (25%), beating a Deutsche Bahn / Rabobank consortium and FirstGroup.[3][4][5][6] This gives Transdev 50%, BNG 17%, and the government 33% stake in Connexxion. In February 2013 the government's 33% shareholding was purchased by Transdev, increasing its shareholding to 86%.[7][8]

Connexxion's parent company, Transdev Netherlands, also had another operation called Veolia Transport Nederland. The branding was replaced with the Connexxion in December 2016.[9] As a result, Veolia Transport Nederland's Haaglanden operations were rebranded Connexxion.

Operations[edit]

Operating area[edit]

Connexxion operate in Amstelland, Amsterdam-Zuidoost, Arnhem, Gooi, Haarlem, Hoeksche Waard, IJsselmonde, North Holland, Vechtstreek, Zaanstreek and Zeeland.[10]

Buses[edit]

As of January 2016, Connexxion operated 1,900 buses and coaches.[11] It operates the only trolleybus network in the Netherlands[12][13] and in 2017 introduced double-deckers on one route. Connexxion also owns bus companies Hermes and Novio.

In December 2013 Connexxion commenced operating the IJsselmonde, Rotterdam concession for 10 years.[14] In December 2017 Connexxion will commence operating the Amstelland-Meerlanden concession for 10 years.[15] An order has been placed with VDL for 100 Citeas SLFA electric buses. This will make it the largest operator of electric buses in Europe.[16]

Rail[edit]

Connexxion is contracted to operate the Arnhem to Doetinchem concession until December 2020 and the Vallei line concession until December 2021.[17]

Connexxion held the Almelo to Mariënberg concession from December 2006 until December 2013, however its operation was sub-contracted to Syntus.[18][19][20] It operated the Sneltram between Utrecht and Nieuwegein until December 2013.[21][22]

The fleet comprises five 2-car Protos electric multiple units, nine 3-car Stadler GTWs diesel multiple units and two 3-car Stadler Flirts.[18][23][24]

Ferries[edit]

Connexxion operated a ferry route from Velsen to IJmuiden and Amsterdam Centraal station with Voskhod hydrofoils until 31 December 2013.[25][26]

Taxis[edit]

As at March 2015 Connexxion operated 3,500 taxis.[27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Connexxion consolidates bus operations Dutch News 3 January 2007
  2. ^ Annual report for year ended 31 December 2007 Archived 8 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Connexxion
  3. ^ French company buys Connexxion Expatica 2 July 2007
  4. ^ Transdev buys majority stake in Dutch bus firm Reuters 2 July 2007
  5. ^ Transdev Acquisition Creates Fourth Largest Public Transport Corporation Group in Europe Archived 23 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine CNW Group 5 July 2007
  6. ^ Annual Report for year ended 31 March 2007 FirstGroup
  7. ^ State Sells Rest of Connexxion Mergers & Acquisitions February 2013
  8. ^ Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2013 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten
  9. ^ Veolia name disappears from the OV OV Magazine 21 November 2016 (Dutch)
  10. ^ Concessions Conexxions (in Dutch)
  11. ^ Delivery of 18 Citeas LLE for Connexxion VDL Bus & Coach December 2015
  12. ^ New articulated trolleybuses for Arnhem Vossloh Kiepe 20 July 2009
  13. ^ Delivered: 11 new trolleybues for Arnheim/NL by Hess and Vossloh Kiepe Vossloh Kiepe 16 July 2013
  14. ^ Transdev wins 2013-2023 public transport concession for IJsselmonde Region Archived 16 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine Transdev 10 July 2013
  15. ^ Connexxion wins Amstelland-Meerlanden public transport tender Transdev 16 December 2016
  16. ^ Transdev electrics Coach & Bus Week 27 April 2017
  17. ^ Concessions[permanent dead link] ProRail (in Dutch)
  18. ^ a b Protos EMU order Railway Gazette International 1 April 2006
  19. ^ Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2008 Archived 5 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine Connexxions
  20. ^ Stadler rolls out latest Arriva Nederland multiple units Railway Gazette International 14 June 2012
  21. ^ Utrecht tram contracts placed Metro Report International 10 October 2012
  22. ^ Veolia Transdev to sell Dutch subsidiary International Railway Journal 18 February 2013
  23. ^ Stadler EMUs enter service with Dutch operators International Railway Journal 14 December 2016
  24. ^ Connexxion Rail Fan Europe
  25. ^ Voskhod-2M arrives in The Netherlands Classic Fast Ferries issue 4 June 2002 page 2
  26. ^ Farewell to Dutch Voskhods Classic Fast Ferries issue 52 January 2014 pages 1-3
  27. ^ Large-scale e-taxi trial for Dutch Connexxion Taxi and Nissan Taxi Intelligence 1 March 2015

External links[edit]

Media related to Connexxion at Wikimedia Commons