Deutsche Bahn AG the Germany state rail transport company confirmed yesterday that it approached the U.K. bus and rail transport operator Arriva PLC for a cash bid.

The German railway transport company which already operates the Chiltern Railways route between London and Birmingham said that discussions are going on and there can be no certainty that any offer will be made. Arriva shares were increased to 700 pence per share valuing the company at just about GBP1.4 billion.

Deutsche Bahn approached Arriva after the discussion had ended with state owned French company Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais or SNCF, regarding a probable join with France public transport operator Keolis. Deutsche Bahn is a big company when compared to Keolis.

Deutsche Bahn previously has a base in U.K. rail transportation after the holder of the Chiltern Railway franchise, the biggest regional rail operation outer of Germany, for an undisclosed sum in 2008. Arriva already has operations in Germany, holding both rail and bus transport networks, with over 3,000 staff in the country.