Australia
Keolis held 51% shareholding in Keolis Downer, which has operated the Melbourne tram network since November 2009.[9][10] Keolis Downer has operated the G:link light rail line on the Gold Coast since July 2014.[11]
In March 2015, Keolis Downer purchased bus operator Australian Transit Enterprises, which operates the Hornibrook Bus Lines, LinkSA, Path Transit and SouthLink operations with 930 buses.[12] During July 2017, Keolis Downer trading as Newcastle Transport took over the Newcastle Buses & Ferries business under a 10-year contract.[13][14] Newcastle Transport also operates the Newcastle Light Rail since February 2019. In October 2019, the Government of New South Wales announced that the bus operations of State Transit were to be contracted out to the private sector.[15] During May 2021, Keolis Downer was awarded the contract to operate Sydney Bus Region 8.[16] Keolis Downer Northern Beaches (KDNB) commenced operating on 31 October 2021 with its contract to run for eight years.[17]
In July 2025, Keolis agreed terms to purchase Downer Group's 49% stake in Keolis Downer.[18] It was completed in December 2025 with the joint venture rebranded to Keolis Australia.[19]
Canada
Keolis Canada operates as a subsidiary of Keolis America. The majority of its Canadian operations are located in Montreal, where it operates the Quebec intercity bus company Orléans Express and part of the Exo Mascouche sector. In addition, under its own brand, Keolis provides shuttle bus services between Ottawa Train Station and Montreal Airport for Air France and KLM passengers.
From 2004 to 2012, the company also operated Acadian Lines intercity buses in The Maritimes. The latter services have since been taken over by independent operator Maritime Bus.
Keolis is a partner in the GrandLinq consortium and operator of the Ion rapid transit system in Waterloo Region, Ontario.
In July 2024, Keolis announced that it is acquiring Pacific Western Transportation's Transit and Motorcoach operations.[20]
Keolis is a partner in the Cadence consortium. In February 2025, it was announced they would be developing Alto (high-speed rail), a high-speed rail
China
In China, Keolis and Shanghai Shentong Metro Group, the owner of Shanghai Metro, created a joint venture called Shanghai Keolis in March 2014.[22] Shanghai Keolis started operating the Pujiang line (formerly Phase 3 of Shanghai Metro Line 8) in March 2018.[23] It would also be operating Shanghai Pudong International Airport's people mover system in 2019, which will link the proposed satellite concourse building with the existing Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, as well as the Songjiang Tram within the Songjiang Region, a suburb west of Shanghai downtown, in 2020.
An agreement had been signed between Keolis and Hubei Government, and Keolis will be responsible for Greater Wuhan area's suburban railway operation.[24]
Denmark
Keolis Danmark is the second biggest bus operator in Denmark with 500 buses and 1,500 employees. Keolis entered the Danish market in 1999 when they bought 49% of the Danish bus operator City-Trafik.[25] During 2007, City-Trafik became a wholly owned subsidiary of Keolis.[26] In 2014, City-Trafik surprised the Danish bus industry when they announced their plans to merger with Nettbuss Danish subsidiary in a joint venture,[27] Keolis owning 75% while Nettbuss held a 25% stake, until the merger was accepted by the Danish authorities. The former City-Trafik was named Keolis Bus Danmark and the former Nettbuss Danmark was named Keolis Danmark. During late 2014, the Danish authorities accepted the merger, permitting the two companies to merge as Keolis Danmark in the following year. During 2015, Keolis was also awarded a contract to operate the first tram in Denmark in Aarhus, which was set to open two years later. In 2016, Keolis SA bought the last 25% of the shares from Nettbuss AS, making Keolis Danmark a wholly owned subsidiary of Keolis.[28]
France
Keolis has extensive operations in France. It provides transit services in many cities including Bordeaux, Dijon, Lille, Lyon, Orléans, and Rennes. In January 2016, the 260 vehicle Transports Daniel Myers business was purchased. Based in the Essonne/Val-de-Marne basin, its main operations are in Montlhéry, Etampes and Avrainville.[29]
Germany
Keolis held a majority (60/40) stake with Rhenus in the Eurobahn joint venture at its founding in 1998.[30] Under the Eurobahn brand, Keolis operated multiple regional train services in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and in the Netherlands. Eurobahn used Stadler Flirt electric multiple units and Bombardier Talent diesel cars to serve these lines. During December 2007, the joint venture was dissolved; at this point, Rhenus took ownership of the bus operations and two railway contracts while Keolis gained full ownership of Eurobahn and the remaining contracts.[31][32]
In October 2021, Keolis announced its intention to divest Eurobahn and withdraw from the German market.[33][34]
India
In 2012, Keolis was awarded the Operation and Maintenance contract of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project.[36] This contract marked Keolis's foray into the Indian market. The Hyderabad Metro Rail Project is valued at 220 billion. Keolis Hyderabad, along with L&T, commenced metro rail operations from 27 November 2017.[37]
Netherlands
Keolis's subsidiary in Netherlands is Keolis Nederland, originally named Syntus.
In 1999, Keolis commenced operations in the Netherlands through a 33% shareholding in Syntus.[38] During 2007, this stake was increased to 50%.[39] In 2012, Keolis purchased Nederlandse Spoorwegen's 50% share in the venture, thus acquiring full control of Syntus.[40][41] The Syntus brand was retired in October 2017 and replaced by the Keolis Nederland brand.[42][43][44]
Norway
Keolis's subsidiary in Norway was Keolis Norge. It was first formed in 2008 as Fjord1 Partner, a joint venture between Fjord1 Nordvestlandske (49%) and Keolis Nordic (51%).[45]
In April 2014, Fjord1 sold their shares to Keolis; to mark this change, the company was rebranded as Keolis Norge AS.[46] On 6 September 2022, DSD AS, the owner of Tide Buss announced they would buy out all shares in Keolis Norge and take over the running of all their contracts, leaving the company defunct.[47]
Qatar
On 7 December 2017, Qatar Rail, the Qatari national public transport operator, awarded RKH Qitarat — the joint venture based on a consortium between RATP Dev and Keolis (49%) and the Qatari company Hamad Group (51%) — the operations and maintenance contract for the new automated metro of Doha, the capital of Qatar, and a light rail network in Lusail, the second largest city in Qatar, located 15 km from Doha's city center.[3]
Sweden
Keolis Sverige was founded in 2003 when Keolis bought 70% of Busslink. The remainder was acquired in 2010. Keolis Sverige is the second-largest operator in Swedish bus market.[48]
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Keolis owns 35% of Govia that owns Govia Thameslink Railway, operator of the Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern franchise and previously operated Thameslink, Southeastern and London Midland.[49][50][51] Keolis also had a 45% shareholding in First TransPennine Express from February 2004 until March 2016. Upon being re-tendered, FirstGroup took full control.[52][53]
Sir Michael Hodgkinson was appointed as Chairman of Keolis UK Ltd in December 2011[54]
United States
Keolis America is based in Boston, Massachusetts. It does business as Keolis North America, operating public transportation contracts in both the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., its subsidiaries operate commuter rail systems in Virginia and Massachusetts, as well as fixed-route and shuttle bus systems in several states. In Nevada, Keolis operates bus services along the Las Vegas strip through a contract with the Regional Transportation Commission.
On 16 October 2009, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board approved an $85 million contract with Keolis Rail Services America to operate and maintain VRE trains for five years.[71] Keolis began operating VRE on 12 July 2010 after a two-week delay, ending Amtrak's 18-year tenure as operator.[72] Both Amtrak and Keolis had staffed the VRE lines with about 80 employees.[71][72] However, during the bidding, a group of Holocaust survivors and Maryland politician Heather Mizeur called for investigations into
