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_on_route_262.jpg) BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV on route 262 atStratford bus station in July 2024 | |
| Company type | TfL bus operator |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 1994; 31 years ago (1994-09) |
| Headquarters | 18 Merton High Street,London, England |
Area served | Greater London |
Key people | Tom Joyner (Managing Director)[1] |
Number of employees | 8,000 |
| Parent | Go-Ahead Group |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | www |
Go-Ahead London is a major bus operator inGreater London and parts ofKent. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands. It is currently (as of April 2025) the largest bus operator inGreater London, operating a total of 157 bus routes mainly in South and Central London as well as some services into North and East London with a fleet size of 2,270 vehicles under contract toTransport for London.[4] It is also the largest operator of electric buses in London, with a total of 540 electric vehicles.
TheGo-Ahead Group is a large transport group based inNewcastle. It first became involved in London bus operations in September 1994, whereupon theprivatisation of London Buses, it purchasedLondon Central for £23.8 million.[5] In May 1996, it added another former London Buses subsidiary,London General, which had been sold in 1994 to amanagement buyout for £46 million.[6][7] 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, whenDocklands Buses was purchased.[8][better source needed] On 29 June 2007, Go-Ahead London purchasedBlue Triangle. With these purchases, Go-Ahead London surpassedArriva London to become the largest operator of buses in London, running around 16% of London bus services.
A corporate image for Go-Ahead London bus routes started to appear in August 2008, when a new Go-Ahead London logo was unveiled.[9][better source needed]
In 2009,Transport for London invited bids for the sale of their own bus operations which ran under theEast Thames Buses brand. Go-Ahead London were selected as the preferred bidder and assumed full responsibility for 10 routes and two depots in October that year. The East Thames Buses brand was replaced with the Go-Ahead London brand. The East Thames Buses operations were initially absorbed under theLondon General arm of Go-Ahead London's business. However, after some route movements and allocation changes some of the services now run under theLondon Central arm of Go-Ahead London's business.
On 30 March 2012, Go-Ahead London purchasedNorthumberland Park garage fromFirst London with all routes brought under the London General arm of Go-Ahead London's business.[10]
On 1 April 2014, the Go-Ahead Group restructured itsMetrobus business, with the management of theTransport for London contracted services passing to the control of theLondon General arm of Go-Ahead London's business, with the remaining commercial services being brought under the control ofBrighton & Hove from 1 July 2014. Services are now operated under an expanded London General licence, however the Metrobus trading name is partially retained.[11]London General's licence was formally increased by theVehicle and Operator Services Agency on 25 April 2014 to accommodate the Metrobus buses.[12][13]
In June 2023, it was announced that Go-Ahead London will take over theKent Thameside services of theFastrackbus rapid transit network fromArriva Southern Counties. These services were taken over on 10 November 2024 temporarily using diesel buses as part of a 15-year contract between the operator andKent County Council.[14][15] Go-Ahead is to launch the service using a fleet of 28battery electricIrizar ie tram buses by April 2025, creating Kent's first all-electric bus network;[16] this fleet is garaged at a repurposed warehouse at Newtons Court inStone in theBorough of Dartford.[17]
The current subsidiaries of Go-Ahead London are, in order of acquisition:
Bus operators inLondon | |
|---|---|
| London | |
| National | |
