SINGAPORE – Metroline, a wholly owned subsidiary of ComfortDelGro, has won contracts worth £422 million (S$719 million) to operate four public-bus franchises in Britain for five years.

It will run buses for Greater Manchester’s Hyde Road, Sharston, Tameside and Wythenshawe franchises, the transport group said in a bourse filing on March 28.

The contracts, which were awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, come with options to be extended for two one-year terms.

Under the contracts, Metroline will operate 232 services with 420 buses and more than 1,350 employees, ComfortDelGro said.

ComfortDelGro managing director and group chief executive Cheng Siak Kian said that the group’s track record with transport operations in Greater London and elsewhere in the world means it is well placed to deliver on these contracts.

Mr Mark Greaves, chairman of both ComfortDelGro and Metroline holding company Braddell Limited, said: “This aligns with our broader strategy to strengthen and strategically grow our core public transportation and point-to-point businesses and solidify our reputation as the multi-modal transport operator of choice.”

Metroline is currently the fourth-largest scheduled bus operator in London, operating about 17 per cent of the city’s scheduled bus services.

It is part of ComfortDelGro’s United Kingdom operations, which include Argyle Satellite, Adventure Travel, CityFleet Networks, Computer Cab, KingKabs, Scottish Citylink Coaches, Megabus and Westbus Coach Services.

Collectively, these companies operate in 23 towns and cities, offering transport services through buses, coaches, taxis and private-hire vehicles.

ComfortDelGro’s share price closed flat at $1.40 on March 28, before the announcement.