NedRailways, the UK arm of Dutch state rail operator NS, is understood to be is poised to enter the UK bus market.

Although the rail firm has declined to comment on the planned move, Transit understands that opportunities throughout the UK, including London, are being examined.

The operator has built up a strong reputation for stakeholder partnership and participation since winning control of both the Merseyrail and Northern rail franchises in partnership with contract services firm Serco. It is likely that with any move into the bus market in the UK, NedRailways will capitalise on these strengths.

This could include bidding for Quality Contracts, which all of the PTEs are now understood to be seriously examining. Earlier this month Metro, the West Yorkshire PTE, was revealed to be working up plans for the county's bus network to be broken up into 11 Quality Contract zones, with an initial contract planned in Wakefield (Transit April 11).

NedRailways' bus plans have been welcomed by PTEG which said it approved of the competition that NedRailways could offer.

"We'd be very pleased if a quality operator like NS entered the UK bus market," a spokesman told Transit.

"It's very welcome that there's now a growing number of operators who understand, and are positive, about the opportunities that franchising could bring for delivering integrated local transport networks.