Keolis

The French public transport system functions according to public service delegation contracts that generally run for five or six years.

Some cities organise and operate their public transport within a 'régie' or a mixed-economy company controlled by the municipality. Examples of these towns are Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg, Toulouse and Nantes.

Elsewhere, the urban passenger transport authority (town, city or greater city council) puts out to private tender the totality of its public transport operations: buses, and where applicable, trams, metro and even bicycles. Operators are expected to carry part of the revenue risk – and reward – and implement measures designed to increase patronage. The PTA pays a contribution to the operator for the service.

In rural areas the regional bus services – regular lines between towns and villages, and school transport – are tendered out by department councils, and managed economically in the same way.

Through the system of public service delegation, the operator is free to propose and implement changes to the public transport network its service frequency and other services and conditions of travel. Keolis in particular brings key expertise in redesigning bus networks and timetables based on in-depth market research into travel patterns and changes in lifestyles. In larger cities with multiple transport modes Keolis is innovative in proposing fluid connections and interoperable ticket systems.

The major French cities in which Keolis is present are: Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux, Rennes, Tours, Angers, Lens, Brest and Dijon.

In regional bus operations Keolis' subsidiaries are present in over 70 French departments, providing regulare transport between towns, school transportation and coach hire.

Since February 2010 the Keolis Group has become France's third largest car parking operator and the second largest in bike share schemes with the acquisition of EFFIA from SNCF. EFFIA designs, builds and operates all forms of parking facilities and has activities in approximately 200 French towns and cities. Its other lines of work employ cutting-edge technology to power bike share schemes and customer service and passenger information systems.

Key figures  

• 85 agglomerations and cities,
• 70 departments covered by regional services,
• 150 subsidiaries,
• 30,800 employees,
• 12,700 buses and coaches,
• 5 tram systems and 5 more planned,
• 4 metros…