Go-Ahead London

Go-Ahead London is the trading name used collectively for the London bus operations of the Go-Ahead Group. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands. It is the largest bus operator in London, operating a total of 115 bus routes under contract to Transport for London.

History

London Central logo incorporating Go-Ahead branding

The Go-Ahead Group is a large transport group based in Newcastle. It first became involved in London bus operations in September 1994, where upon the privatisation of London Buses it purchased London Central. In May 1996, it added another former London Buses subsidiary, London General, which had been sold in 1994 to a management buy out.^[1] These two companies subsequently developed in much the same way, both establishing a livery of red with a charcoal skirt and yellow relief band, and splitting orders for new buses.

Further expansion did not occur until September 2006, when Docklands Buses was purchased.^[2] On 29 June 2007, the Go-Ahead purchased Blue Triangle. With these purchases, Go-Ahead surpassed Arriva London to become the largest operator of buses in London, running around 16% of London bus services.

A corporate image for Go-Ahead's London bus services started to appear in August 2008, when a new Go-Ahead London logo^[3] was unveiled.

In 2009, Transport for London invited bids for the sale of their own bus operations which ran under the East Thames Buses brand. Go-Ahead London were selected as the preferred bidder and assumed full responsibility for 10 routes and two depots in October 2009. The East Thames brand was replaced with the Go-Ahead London brand. The East Thames operations were initially absorbed under the London General arm of Go-Ahead's London business. However, after some route movements and allocation changes some of the services now run under the London Central.

On 30 March 2012, Go-Ahead purchased Northumberland Park Garage from First London with all routes brought under the London General wing.^[4]

On 1 April 2014, Go-Ahead restructured its Metrobus business, with the management of the Transport for London contracted services passing to the control of Go-Ahead London, with the remaining services administered by Brighton & Hove from 1 July 2014. Services are now operated under an expanded London General licence, however the Metrobus trading name is retained.^[5] London General's licence was formally increased by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency on 25 April 2014.^[6][7]

Current subsidiaries

The current subsidiaries of Go-Ahead London are, in order of acquisition:

• London Central (September 1994)
• London General (May 1996)
• Metrobus (September 1999)
• Docklands Buses (September 2006)
• Blue Triangle (June 2007)

References

External links

• Go-Ahead London website

Bus operators in London
London	Abellio London Arriva London CT Plus Go-Ahead London Blue Triangle Docklands Buses London Central London General Golden Tours Metroline RATP Group London Sovereign London United Quality Line The Original Tour Redwing Coaches Stagecoach London East London Selkent Thameside Sullivan Buses The Big Bus Company Tower Transit Uno
National	Megabus National Express
London Transport portal

Go-Ahead Group
United Kingdom bus companies	Anglian Bus Brighton & Hove Carousel Buses Go-Ahead London Blue Triangle Docklands Buses London Central London General Go North East Go South Coast Bluestar Marchwood Motorways Uni-link Damory Coaches Southern Vectis Wilts & Dorset More Salisbury Reds Tourist Group Hedingham Chambers Konectbus Metrobus Oxford Bus Company Plymouth Citybus Thames Travel
Singapore bus companies	Go-Ahead Singapore
United Kingdom railway companies (as Govia)	Govia Thameslink Railway including Gatwick Express Great Northern Southern Thameslink London Midland Southeastern
Defunct UK operations	Aviance UK East Thames Buses Meteor Parking Solent Blue Line Thames Trains Thameslink (Govia)