British investment company Star Capital Partners purchased a 75% share in Abellio from the City of Essen in December 2005.

[1] In December 2008, both parties sold their stakes in the venture to the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).

[4] As of April 2020, Abellio Deutschland operates 50 railway lines in nine states amounting to 5,518 km with a fleet of 278 trains.

[9][10] The remaining KVG business was sold to Rhenus Veniro and the District of Bautzen in October 2014 with 84 buses.

In August 2022, Abellio agreed terms to sell its UK operations to the Transport UK Group, a management buyout led by managing director Dominic Booth, subject to approval by the Office of Rail and Road and partner organisations Merseytravel and Transport for London.

[28] Abellio London operated six garages; Armstrong Way, Battersea, Beddington Cross, Dawley Road, Fulwell and Walworth.

Since July 2003, the joint venture has operated the Merseyrail franchise;[30] its 25-year contract expires in 2028, at which point it has been reported that the Liverpool City Region government intend to bring the network and its infrastructure under local public ownership.

[32] Serco-Abellio also lodged unsuccessful bids for the Wales & Borders, West Midlands and Tyne & Wear Metro franchises.

[38][39] During 2021, following the COVID-19 emergency measures, Greater Anglia was given a direct award contract, replacing its franchise agreement, expiring on 20 September 2026.

[48] In October 2016, it was announced that Abellio, along with several other competing companies, had been shortlisted to bid for the Wales & Borders franchise.