Who we are

EPTO, the European Passenger Transport Operators association, represents public transport operators across continental Europe. Our members have operations both inside and without the European Union, comprising heavy rail, bus, coach, light rail and metro public transport services and other mobility activities. EPTO welcomes membership from independent operators who are operating competitively tendered contracts and providing services in deregulated markets.

EPTO In Numbers:

  • Our membership covers 28 countries (of which 18 are EU member states)

  • Over 300,000 employees worldwide care for 10 Billion Passengers each year.

Who:

  • Members: Arriva, First Group, Go Ahead, Grupo Barraqueiro, Keolis, ComfortDelGro

Our competencies:

  • urban, regional, national and international bus and coach services

  • urban, regional and national rail services

  • urban metro and tram services

  • taxi and other demand responsive services

  • ferry and harbour services

  • network planning services

  • bus, coach and train station management

What we stand for:

  • Development of a competitive market structure for the supply of public transport services

  • Support the opening of passenger transport markets for competition

  • Working to ensure that we deliver passenger transport services are:

    • Of high quality

    • Effective

    • Efficient in their use of resources

    • Represent good value for money

    • Embrace technological advancement

    • Deliver practical and workable mobility solutions

    • Deliver high customer satisfaction

Why:

  • Efficient public transport is vital for sustaining development and economic growth and achieving decarbonisation and reducing climate change.

  • Investment and innovation in public transport networks by private sector public transport operators is helping to reduce local authority subsidy.

  • Bus priority schemes are improving public transport efficiency and are attracting new users - including from cars.

  • Effective and strong partnerships between local authorities and private sector public transport operators are delivering investment, innovation and improved public transport networks.