Keolis wins 42 bus lines (with 350 vehicles) in Paris starting in August 2025

Keolis announces it has been selected by Île-de-France Mobilités as the new operator for 42 bus lines in the Marne and Brie area starting in 2025. Keolis will manage a fleet of 350 buses.

Keolis has indeed been awarded Île-de-France Mobilités’ concession contract (DSP) 9, a key part of the ongoing competitive tendering process for the Paris region’s bus lines which began in 2019.

This contract will entail managing bus lines serving 1,215 stops across 33 municipalities in the Marne and Brie area, located in the east of the Île-de-France region. This makes Keolis the first third-party operator of bus lines in immediate Paris suburbs.

Keolis is already operationg metro lines 16, 17, and 18 in Paris.

Keolis to operate 350 buses in Paris

Keolis achieved revenue of €7.0 bn in 2023, up by 6.6% on an organic basis compared to 2022. The group’s recurring operating profit (EBIT) amounts to €164 million, representing a margin of 2.3% of revenue, according to the data concerning 2023 financial results just released by the company.

The new contract, spanning eight years and valued at 900 million euros, covers the operation of six bus operations centres and 42 bus lines serving municipalities such as Chelles, Pontault-Combault, Noisy-le-Grand, Clichy-sous-Bois, and Montfermeil in the departments of Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, and Seine-et-Marne, benefiting 557,000 residents.

Within the contract, Keolis will commence energy conversion works at four of the area’s bus operations centres from the start of the contract, to enable the operation of electric and CNG vehicles.

The contract implementation will take place in two phases: from 1 August 2025, Keolis will begin operating the outer-suburban (“grande couronne”) lines, followed by the inner-suburban (petite couronne) lines from 1 November 2025.

As part of this concession contract, a new dedicated entity will be formed to welcome 1,100 employees, including 900 drivers. Keolis plans to recruit new employees from 2025 to reinforce existing teams and support network growth.