RNS Number:1898T
Arriva PLC
12 December 2003


12 December 2003


Arriva plc

PRE-CLOSE TRADING UPDATE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Arriva plc, the transport services organisation, will announce its preliminary
results for the year ended 31 December 2003 on 4 March 2004. As usual, the Group
will be briefing analysts over the next few days.

Since announcing our Interim Results in September, each of the Group's divisions
has continued to trade strongly and has performed in line with, or better than,
expectations.

Operation of the new rail franchise serving Wales and the border counties
commenced on 7 December, and the Strategic Rail Authority is currently 
evaluating bids for the Greater Anglia, Northern and ScotRail franchises.

On 31 December Euan Cameron, the executive director responsible for Arriva
Trains, will retire. Commenting, Bob Davies, Arriva's chief executive, said: 
"Over the last three years Euan has made a significant contribution to the
development of our new UK Trains division and its management team. He has helped
to establish Arriva's long-term position in the UK rail sector and we wish him
well in his retirement. Ray Price, rail operations director, will continue to be
responsible for day-to-day operations and Roger Cobbe, rail commercial director,
will focus on new franchises and policy."

Arriva, with its mix of cash generative and growth businesses and underpinned by
a strong balance sheet, continues to pursue its strategy of organic growth,
targeted acquisitions in chosen markets and share buy-backs, whilst offering an
attractive dividend stream.

For further enquiries:

Arriva plc
Bob Davies, Chief Executive                                0191 520 4000
Steve Lonsdale, Group Finance Director
Julian Evans, Director of Corporate Communications

Gavin Anderson & Company
Deborah Walter                                             020 7554 1400
Charlotte Stone




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END
TSTDGMMZLZFGFZG