Digitalization and innovation

• In March 2019, DB Arriva launched the bike-sharing system BikeKIA in Žilina/Slovakia. This scheme is supported by Kia Motors, a major local employer. At present, 120 bicycles are available across 20 different locations in the city.
• DB Arriva completed the introduction of contactless payment systems in about 3,600 buses. These systems make paying for journeys easier and faster for customers.
• UK Bus expanded its on-­­demand minibus service ArrivaClick by winning tenders in Liverpool, Leicestershire and Hertfordshire. In Leicestershire, DB Arriva teamed up with a large housing developer to provide the ArrivaClick service. For the first time in Great Britain, an on-­­demand service has been financed through a Section 106 agreement, which is directly connected to a construction permit.
• In November 2019, DB Arriva was awarded the contract to operate a new mobility pilot scheme in the Dutch province of Limburg. The new service will be offered for two years starting in February 2020.
• The regulator in the UK approved the commencement of a new commercial rail service between London and Blackpool. To be operated by Grand Central, the service will operate under an open access model, rather than most rail services in the UK that are operated under a franchise model. Competition will deliver more choice for customers and improve connectivity. Services are expected to start in Spring 2020.