KeolisAmey
KeolisAmey is a joint venture between Keolis and Amey that operates and manages light-rail and railway concessions in the United Kingdom, with a forthcoming role on Dublin's Luas network.
Last updated October 19, 2026
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Overview
KeolisAmey is a transport-operating joint venture formed by French public-transport company Keolis and British infrastructure-services provider Amey. Rather than functioning primarily as a consumer-facing product brand, it is a concession and contract operator whose activities are delivered through operating companies associated with individual rail and light-rail networks. Its United Kingdom portfolio has included the Docklands Light Railway in London, the Manchester Metrolink tram network, and the Wales & Borders rail franchise. KeolisAmey Docklands began operating the Docklands Light Railway concession in December 2014, replacing Serco. The operator was subsequently recognised as Train Operator of the Year in 2018 and 2023. Following a retendering process, it retained the Docklands Light Railway concession for a further eight years beginning in April 2025. KeolisAmey entered the Manchester Metrolink concession in July 2017, taking over from RATP. The contract was later extended through July 2027. KeolisAmey Metrolink received the UK Operator of the Year award at the Global Light Rail Awards in both 2024 and 2025, reflecting the performance of its tramway operating business. The group also operated the Wales & Borders rail franchise through KeolisAmey Wales from October 2018, replacing Arriva Trains Wales. The franchise became financially unviable during the COVID-19 pandemic and was transferred into public ownership in February 2021, when Transport for Wales Rail, under the Welsh Government, took over train operations. Amey continued to hold responsibility for certain infrastructure projects connected with the network. KeolisAmey is scheduled to expand beyond Great Britain when it takes over operation of Dublin's Luas light-rail network from Transdev in September 2026. This planned contract makes Ireland a forthcoming operating market, although the available reference material does not identify the joint venture's headquarters, financial performance, executive leadership, or a standalone corporate website. Its positioning is therefore best understood as that of a specialist public-transport concessionaire combining Keolis's rail and transit operating expertise with Amey's infrastructure-support capabilities.
History
KeolisAmey is a joint venture between Keolis, a French transportation company, and Amey, a British provider of infrastructure-support services. Its business model is based on winning and managing public-transport concessions rather than selling vehicles, ticketing products, or consumer services under a conventional retail brand. Operations are generally carried out through dedicated companies associated with the relevant network. The venture's documented United Kingdom operating history began with the Docklands Light Railway. In December 2014, KeolisAmey Docklands assumed the concession from Serco. The company later received Train Operator of the Year recognition in 2018 and again in 2023. After the concession was retendered, KeolisAmey Docklands retained the contract for another eight years from April 2025, extending its role in the London light-rail system. In July 2017, KeolisAmey Metrolink began operating the Manchester Metrolink concession, replacing RATP. The Manchester contract was subsequently extended to July 2027. The operation achieved further industry recognition when it was named UK Operator of the Year at the Global Light Rail Awards in 2024 and 2025. KeolisAmey Wales began operating the Wales & Borders rail franchise in October 2018, taking over from Arriva Trains Wales. The franchise was affected by the economic and operational consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and became unviable. In February 2021, train operations were nationalised, with Transport for Wales Rail taking over under the Welsh Government. Amey nevertheless retained responsibility for some infrastructure projects. The next major stage in the venture's development is its planned entry into Ireland. In September 2026, KeolisAmey is scheduled to take over operation of Dublin's Luas network from Transdev. If completed as described, this will broaden the venture's operating footprint from the United Kingdom into the Irish light-rail market. The available material does not provide a founding date for the joint venture, a headquarters location, named executives, financial figures, or a corporate website. Accordingly, those details remain unspecified in this dossier.
- 2026
Planned Luas operating transition
[1]KeolisAmey is scheduled to take over Dublin's Luas network from Transdev in September 2026.
- 2025
Docklands Light Railway concession retained
[1]KeolisAmey Docklands retained the concession for a further eight years from April 2025 after retendering.
- 2021
Wales & Borders operations transferred to public ownership
[1]Transport for Wales Rail took over train operations in February 2021 after the franchise became unviable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2018
Wales & Borders franchise begins
[1]KeolisAmey Wales began operating the Wales & Borders rail franchise in October 2018.
- 2017
Manchester Metrolink operation begins
[1]KeolisAmey Metrolink took over operation of the Manchester Metrolink concession from RATP in July 2017.
- 2014
Docklands Light Railway concession begins
[1]KeolisAmey Docklands commenced operation of the Docklands Light Railway in December 2014, succeeding Serco.
Products and positioning
A specialist public-transport concession and infrastructure-services operator focused on rail, tram, and light-rail networks managed under long-term contracts.
Light-rail concession · 2014
Docklands Light Railway operations
KeolisAmey Docklands operates the Docklands Light Railway concession in London. The operation began in December 2014 after the company took over from Serco, and the concession was retained for a further eight years from April 2025 following retendering.
Tram and light-rail concession · 2017
Manchester Metrolink operations
KeolisAmey Metrolink operates the Manchester Metrolink concession. It assumed the contract from RATP in July 2017, with the agreement later extended until July 2027. The operator received UK Operator of the Year recognition at the Global Light Rail Awards in 2024 and 2025.
Rail franchise · 2018
Wales & Borders rail franchise
KeolisAmey Wales operated the Wales & Borders railway franchise from October 2018, replacing Arriva Trains Wales. The franchise ended as a train-operating responsibility in February 2021 when Transport for Wales Rail took over during the COVID-19 period; Amey retained some infrastructure-project responsibilities.
Light-rail concession · 2026
Luas operations
KeolisAmey is scheduled to take over operation of Dublin's Luas light-rail network from Transdev in September 2026. The available material describes this as a forthcoming operation.
Controversies
2020
KeolisAmey fined £2.3m for poor performance
KeolisAmey was fined £2.3m by the Welsh Government for poor performance, according to a BBC News report. The article states that the fines were imposed over different periods and does not establish when they were imposed. The report does not provide further details on the specific performance issues, the periods covered by the fines, or any response from KeolisAmey. The fine amount and the reason of poor performance are the central facts reported.
Brand decisions
2026
Planned entry into Dublin's Luas networkStrategyBackground
Dublin's Luas is currently operated by Transdev, and KeolisAmey is scheduled to assume the operating contract.
Action taken
KeolisAmey is due to take over operation of the Luas network in September 2026.
Aftermath
The planned transition would establish KeolisAmey's first documented operating role in Ireland.
2025
Retention of the Docklands Light Railway concessionStrategyBackground
The Docklands Light Railway concession was retendered after KeolisAmey Docklands had operated it since December 2014.
Action taken
KeolisAmey Docklands successfully retained the concession for a further eight years from April 2025.
Aftermath
The decision extended KeolisAmey's operating role on the Docklands Light Railway through the new concession period.
Recent events
KeolisAmey fined £2.3m for poor performance[2]
Reported:
The Welsh Government fined KeolisAmey £2.3m for poor performance. The article says the fines were imposed over different periods and does not establish when they were imposed.
Sources2 sources
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