METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

ViaVan expands in London, launches first airport service

Follows the October launch of operations in Milton Keynes, and successful debuts in Amsterdam and Berlin earlier in the year.

December 4, 2018
ViaVan expands in London, launches first airport service

Since its launch in zones one and two earlier this year, ViaVan has provided more than three million rides, and more than 17,000 drivers have registered to drive for the platform.

1 min to read


Since its launch in zones one and two earlier this year, ViaVan has provided more than three million rides, and more than 17,000 drivers have registered to drive for the platform.

On-demand shared transit provider ViaVan expanded its shared ride service in London. ViaVan’s affordable, efficient, and congestion-reducing shared rides will now be available in zones one through 5, including service to London City Airport. The expansion follows on the heels of the October launch of operations in Milton Keynes, and its successful debuts in Amsterdam and Berlin earlier this year.

“ViaVan is redefining mobility across London, providing residents with an innovative transportation solution that provides the same ease and accessibility as private car ownership and taxi trips, but with the affordability and congestion-reducing benefits of mass transit,” said Chris Snyder, CEO of ViaVan.

Ad Loading...

ViaVan, a joint venture between Via and Mercedes-Benz Vans, uses Via's dynamic ride-pooling technology. The algorithm enables multiple riders to seamlessly share a single vehicle, directing passengers to a nearby corner — a virtual bus stop — for pickup and drop-off, allowing for efficient shared trips along a route created in real time without lengthy detours that take riders out of their way.

Since its launch in zones one and two earlier this year, ViaVan has provided more than three million rides, and more than 17,000 drivers have registered to drive for the platform, which the company estimates at roughly 20% to 30% of Uber’s London fleet based on numbers the company has made available.

More New Mobility

New Mobilityby StaffJanuary 30, 2026

Chicago's Pace Expands VanGo Mobility Program

The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.

Read More →
BusJanuary 22, 2026

Biz Briefs: BART, Uber Launch Partnership and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
SponsoredJanuary 19, 2026

3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers

Transit agencies depend on safe, reliable vehicles to deliver consistent service. This eBook examines how next-generation fleet software helps agencies move from reactive processes to proactive operations through automated maintenance, real-time safety insights, and integrated data. Learn how fleets are improving uptime, safety outcomes, and operational efficiency.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Transit signal priority and public transit agencies.
New Mobilityby Alex RomanJanuary 16, 2026

How AI is Redefining Transit Operations and Signal Priority

In a recent episode of METROspectives, LYT CEO Timothy Menard discusses how artificial intelligence, cloud connectivity, and real-time data are transforming traffic management, boosting bus reliability, and enabling system-wide transit optimization across cities.

Read More →
New Mobilityby StaffJanuary 15, 2026

U.S. Transit Trails Global Peers, Transportation for America Report Outlines Path Forward

The analysis finds that a $4.6 trillion investment across all levels of government over 20 years ($230 billion per year) would be required to build, operate, and maintain a transit network that approaches the level of service within a cohort of 17 global cities with world-class transit systems.

Read More →
RailJanuary 15, 2026

Biz Briefs: Alstom Supplying TTC Subways, SilverRide Lands California Contracts, and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Railby Staff and News ReportsJanuary 9, 2026

Biz Briefs: Hitachi Rail, GreenPower, and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
An image of a woman exiting a Via microtransit fane with text reading "How to Scale Microtransit Through Data."
New Mobilityby Elora HaynesJanuary 8, 2026

Microtransit’s Next Chapter: Data, Equity, and Job Access at Scale

Via data shows microtransit boosts job access, equity, and commutes when designed to feed fixed routes, not compete with them.

Read More →
New Mobilityby Alex RomanJanuary 5, 2026

Forest River Working to Redefine Reliability, Responsibility in the Bus Industry

As the transportation landscape continues to evolve in the wake of the pandemic, few manufacturers have faced, or embraced, change as decisively as Forest River Bus.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsDecember 24, 2025

Biz Briefs: Electric Paratransit Buses in San Francisco and More

Biz Briefs covers the latest supplier news in the motorcoach and public transit industries.

Read More →