Veolia Transport
Public transport division of Veolia Environnement.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Veolia Transport was the public transport division of Veolia Environnement, operating bus and rail services in multiple countries. It later merged with Transdev to form Transdev Group.
History
Veolia Transport developed from the transport businesses of CGEA, a company acquired by Compagnie Générale des Eaux in 1980. CGEA's non-transport activities were separated into other parts of the group, leaving transport as its principal remaining activity. On 1 January 1997, the transport business was formally established as CGEA Transport. The parent company changed substantially during the late 1990s. Compagnie Générale des Eaux became Vivendi in 1998 and created Vivendi Environnement in 1999 to bring together environmental and infrastructure operations. In that same year, CGEA Transport adopted the Connex brand. The name had first been used for rail franchises in southern England and was subsequently applied internationally, though certain subsidiaries retained local identities. In 2003, Vivendi Environnement became Veolia Environnement. A group-wide rebranding in 2005 changed Connex to Veolia Transport in most markets. The division operated through a mixture of subsidiaries, concessions, franchises, and joint ventures. Its French portfolio included bus networks, suburban Paris operations, tramways, tourist railways, and ferry interests. Its international portfolio extended to bus and rail services in Europe, rail franchises in Britain, tramways in Ireland and Spain, ferries and urban rail in Scandinavia, and public-transport joint ventures in Asia. Veolia Transport's United Kingdom rail activities included Connex South Central and Connex South Eastern. The South Central franchise ended in 2001 after a transfer to Govia, while the South Eastern franchise was terminated in 2003 following concerns about financial management. These operations were distinct from the later corporate merger but formed part of the division's historical international footprint. The company also expanded in Central and Eastern Europe through acquisitions of bus operators and transport enterprises. In the Czech Republic it operated regional and urban bus systems, a trolleybus network, and the Desná regional railway. In Germany, Veolia Verkehr operated regional railways and bus companies. In the Netherlands, it ran bus, rail, and ferry concessions. In Scandinavia, operations included buses, ferries, trams, and local rail. The Asia strategy included Veolia Transport RATP Asia, established with RATP Group in 2009 and later renamed RATP Dev Transdev Asia. Veolia sold Veolia Cargo in 2009 to SNCF and Eurotunnel. It also announced a merger with Transdev, then owned by Caisse des Dépôts. Completion in March 2011 created Veolia Transdev, described at the time as a major private-sector sustainable-mobility group. The successor was renamed Transdev in 2013. Veolia Environnement subsequently pursued a broad divestment and restructuring program. The group announced plans to dispose of its Transdev participation and leave transport. Its remaining shares were sold in January 2019 to the Rethmann Group. As a result, Veolia Transport is now a defunct corporate brand whose former activities are distributed among Transdev, other operators, and public authorities.
- 2019
Veolia exits Transdev ownership
[1]Veolia sold its remaining Transdev interest to the Rethmann Group.
- 2013
Successor renamed Transdev
[1]Veolia Transdev simplified its name to Transdev.
- 2011
Merger with Transdev completed
[1]Veolia Transport merged with Transdev to form Veolia Transdev.
- 2009
Veolia Cargo sold
[1]Veolia's rail-freight division was sold to SNCF and Eurotunnel.
- 2005
Veolia Transport brand launched
[1]The transport division adopted the Veolia Transport name in the group's international rebranding.
- 1999
Connex brand introduced
[1]CGEA Transport was rebranded Connex during the development of Vivendi Environnement.
- 1997
CGEA Transport established
[1]The transport activities of CGEA were organized as CGEA Transport on 1 January.
- 1980
CGE acquires CGEA
[1]Compagnie Générale des Eaux acquired CGEA, establishing the corporate lineage from which the later Veolia transport division developed.
Products and positioning
International private-sector operator and concessionaire of public transport, combining local authority contracts with multinational mobility expertise.
Public transport · 1997
Urban and regional bus networks
A core activity across France and many overseas markets, consisting of city buses, suburban services, regional routes, school or demand-responsive services, and contracted network management for local authorities.
Rail public transport
Tramway and light rail operations
Veolia Transport operated or managed tram and light-rail systems in several European cities, including French networks and the Trambaix, Trambesòs, and Parla systems in Spain.
Rail transport
Passenger rail services
The portfolio included regional and long-distance passenger rail, including Veolia Verkehr operations in Germany and the former Connex rail franchises in southern England.
Maritime passenger transport
Ferry services
The division held or operated ferry businesses in Europe, including Mediterranean ferry interests and services in the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Leisure transport
Tourist railways
French activities included several tourism-oriented railways, such as the Petit train de La Rhune, Vapeur du Trieux, Chemin de Fer de La Mure, and Chemins de Fer de Provence.
Controversies
2003
Connex South Eastern franchise termination
The UK government revoked Connex South Eastern's rail franchise in 2003 after repeated warnings concerning poor financial management. The event became one of the most prominent controversies associated with the former Connex/Veolia transport portfolio.
Brand decisions
2011
Planned withdrawal from transportStrategyBackground
Veolia Environnement reported disappointing financial results and launched restructuring and asset-redeployment plans.
Action taken
Veolia announced a divestment program that included selling its participation in Transdev and leaving the transport sector.
Aftermath
The final Transdev shares were sold to the Rethmann Group in 2019.
2009
Merger agreement with TransdevM&ABackground
Veolia Transport and Transdev operated complementary international public-transport businesses, while Veolia was reassessing its transport portfolio.
Action taken
The groups announced a merger, which was completed in March 2011 and created Veolia Transdev.
Aftermath
The combined group was renamed Transdev in 2013. Veolia later sold its remaining ownership interest.
2009
Sale of Veolia CargoStrategyBackground
The division was reviewing the scope of its rail activities and separating freight from its passenger-mobility focus.
Action taken
Veolia sold Veolia Cargo to SNCF and Eurotunnel.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Veolia Transport's freight-rail exposure while its passenger operations continued until the Transdev merger.
Sources1 sources
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