Keolis awarded 10-year contract in Utrecht (with 250 e-buses coming)

Dutch public transport authority Province of Utrecht has awarded Keolis a ten-year contract for the operation and maintenance of its Utrecht bus network.

The contract, worth a total of 750 million euros, includes the deployment of more than 250 electric buses, the largest e-fleet operated by Keolis in the Netherlands. It will start in December 2025.

Keolis to operate 250 e-buses in Utrecht, Netherlands

Present in the Netherlands since 1999, Keolis is strengthening its presence in the country with the renewal of this contract which it has been operating in the Utrecht region since 2016. To enhance the attractiveness of the network, Keolis says it is proposing to extend timetables and offer more services to users.

Over the next few years, Keolis will introduce a large fleet of electric buses, with more than 250 vehicles. Electric buses will be gradually introduced on the network, while recharging facilities will be installed in bus parking areas and the network’s five depots, Keolis states in a press note.

The network will also operate under the new U-OV (Utrecht Openbaar Vervoer) name, replacing Syntus Utrecht.

Jan Kilström, CEO Keolis for Continental Europe “The renewal of this contract for a further ten years confirms our customer’s confidence in Keolis. In recent years, we have been able to deliver a quality transport service, and even increase passenger satisfaction levels, despite the driver shortage. Continuing to support Province of Utrecht in its energy transition ambitions by gradually deploying a fleet of 250 electric buses is a source of immense pride for our teams in the Netherlands. Their commitment to the Syntus Utrecht network is admirable, and I’m convinced that they were instrumental in securing the new contract”.