National Express acquires Spanish bus company Transportes Rober

National Express Group, a British multinational public transport company, has acquired Spain-based Transportes Rober for €13 million.

Transportes Rober for more than 20 years has operated the urban bus contract in the Spanish city of Granada. Its acquisition is said to be the next step for National Express Group in strengthening the regional and urban bus markets, which the company says is a strategy which ALSA bus company, its subsidiary, has executed successfully in Galicia, the Basque Region, Leon, and others.

The British multinational public transport company said that Granada is an important hub for long haul connections. Besides, it builds on the existing urban business of ALSA in Almeria and regional services.

National Express acquires Spanish bus company Transportes Rober. Photo courtesy of Porao/Wikipedia.org.

Ignacio Garat – CEO of National Express Group said: “I am delighted that in addition to maintaining tight control on costs, we are able to focus on growth and continue our successful ‘consolidate and compound’ strategy.

“The acquisition of Rober adds another revenue-protected contract to ALSA, consolidating its leadership position in another region, further diversifying its revenue streams and delivering operational synergies.”

With the acquisition of Transportes Rober, the British public transportation company will increase its fleet to 650 vehicles and workforce to 1,900 in Andalusia.

Francisco Iglesias – CEO of ALSA said “The consolidation of regional and urban services in Andalusia will reinvigorate public transport across the region making it more attractive and easier to use.”