Keolis wins contract to operate electric buses in Bergen, Norway

Keolis’ subsidiary in Norway was awarded its first bus network by Skyss, the public transport authority of Bergen, to operate a 9½ year contract in the centre and west side of the city.

The €333 million ($366.3 million) contract, which comes into effect on 1 December 2020, concerns a fleet of 136 mainly electric buses that run on 100% renewable energy. The buses will contribute to improved quality of life to the nearly 300,000 inhabitants of Bergen. With this new contract, Keolis reinforces its presence in Norway, where it already operates the Bergen light rail network.

Bernard Tabary, CEO International of Keolis Group said: “We are delighted that Skyss has entrusted us to run the Bergen bus network and we are looking forward to a close collaboration. Winning this contract gives us the opportunity to create synergies between our Bergen light rail network and the new bus operation and to offer our passengers a more integrated mobility offer. The 100% fossil free bus fleet will enhance Bergen's quality of life appeal ever further.”

In total, the whole fleet is expected to run a total of 5.7 million kilometres and carry 17 million passengers annually. The successful operation of the Bergen's light rail, coupled with the Keolis Group's expertise gained through its many bus operations around the world, provides a solid base for running Bergen's bus network.

Keolis has been present in Norway since 2010. With this new contract, its presence in the country will increase to around 500 employees. Keolis operates the Bergen light rail network since 2010, which is 20 kilometres long and counts 28 trams. The contract was recently renewed for another eight years and now includes maintenance in addition to operations.

As a committed actor in the transition to greener energies, Keolis is working with public transport authorities and passengers to promote a more sustainable form of mobility. In addition to the 100% fossil free buses in Bergen, Keolis is leading several electro-mobility projects in France and internationally. In France, Keolis has just launched the first electric Bus Rapid Transit service in Amiens and is preparing to launch the fully-electric BRT in Bayonne-Biarritz-Anglet, the hydrogen-powered BRT in Pau1 and the Caen tram system, which will all be brought into service over the next few months. As a result, 2019 sees Keolis due to become the operator with the highest number of fully electric transport networks in France.

Internationally, Keolis is also spearheading numerous electro-mobility projects. In addition to its fleet of electric vehicles in Sweden and the Netherlands, the Group will soon be operating the second largest electric vehicle fleet on the East Coast of the United States. After beginning operations in January 2019 in Greensboro in North Carolina, Keolis launched the state's first fully electric bus route in February in the shift to what will become a full fleet of 43 fully electric buses. On the West Coast in Los Angeles, Foothill Transit selected the Group to operate its network of 147 buses, including 14 electric ones, with plan for a fully electric fleet by 2030. In Canada in December 2018, Keolis became North America's largest operator of fully electric type-C school buses.