Arriva is in talks with SNCF to create a European transport group

Negotiations between the French state railway operator SNCF and British transport company Arriva to create a European transport group are part of a wave of deals in the sector across Europe, which is caused by the liberalization of the European transport industry and the credit crunch. 

Arriva has become one of the five major bus and rail operators in the UK that aim to expand into continental Europe, but not in North America, said analyst Mark McVicar Nomura International (Mark McVicar). 

Possible merger sArriva can deliver SNCF opportunities for creation of transport networks "from door to door throughout Europe. And in addition, operation of trains in the UK, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Poland. 

Arriva is the largest private operator of bus routes in Denmark, Italy and Portugal, vigorously engaged in the transport sector in several other European countries. Experts say that in the event of a merger will be a new transportation group with a turnover of 6 billion euros. 

"If I was looking for something great and that should be presented geographically, then Arriva is the only company where I can turn" - told in interview Financial Times McVicar.