 | |
| Formerly | |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary Private Limited Company |
| ISIN | GB0003753778  |
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | 17 February 1987; 38 years ago (1987-02-17)[1] |
| Headquarters | Newcastle upon Tyne, England[1] |
Area served |
|
Key people |
|
| Products | Bus and rail services |
| Revenue |  £4,058.5 million (2021)[2] |
| £115.5 million (2021)[2] | |
| £(40.7) million (2021)[2] | |
Number of employees | 30,573 (2021)[2] |
| Parent | Kinetic Group (51%) Globalvia (49%) |
| Website | go-ahead |
The Go-Ahead Group Limited is amulti-nationaltransport group based inNewcastle upon Tyne, England. While the majority of its operations are within Great Britain, it also operates services in Ireland, Australia, Singapore, and Norway. Go-Ahead was formerly listed on theLondon Stock Exchange prior to being purchased byKinetic Group andGlobalvia by 2022.
The Go-Ahead Group was originally founded in February 1987 asGo-Ahead Northern Limited as part of the widerprivatisation of theNational Bus Company. Early expansion centred around the acquisition of several smaller competing bus operators inNorth East England and operating as asubcontractor toNational Express; during the early 1990s, theBrighton & Hove,Oxford Bus Company, andLondon Central were all acquired. During May 1994, Go-Ahead wasfloated on the London Stock Exchange.
In October 1996, Go-Ahead entered the UK railway sector via the operation of theThames Trains franchise. Via theGovia joint venture, it bid for additional rail franchises in Britain, securing theThameslink and later theSoutheastern andLondon Midland operations.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Go-Ahead diversified into ground handling services at various British airports via the acquisition ofGatwick Handling International,British Midland, and Reed Aviation. During 2010, Go-Ahead disposed of its airport-based operations, the majority being sold toDnata UK andServisair. During the early 2010s, Go-Ahead acquired numerous other British transport companies.
During late 2015, it was contracted to operate bus and rail services in Germany andSingapore; in subsequent years, Go-Ahead also expanded into Ireland and Norway. On 28 September 2021, Britain'sDepartment for Transport terminated Go-Ahead'sSoutheastern franchise after the discovery of financial misconduct. During August 2022, a consortium of Australia'sKinetic Group (51%) and Spain'sGlobalvia (49%) took over Go-Ahead, having valued the company at £669 million. During January 2023, it was announced that Go-Ahead was expanding into the Australian market via theU-Go Mobility joint venture with the engineering companyUGL.
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The Go-Ahead Group was originally founded asGo-Ahead Northern Limited on 17 February 1987 as a consequence of theprivatisation of theNational Bus Company, during which a partialmanagement buyout led byMartin Ballinger andChris Moyes purchased itsGateshead-based northern division, known as theNorthern General Transport Company.[3] Early expansion of the company involved the acquisition of several smaller competing bus operators inNorth East England, such asGypsy Queen in 1989 andLow Fell Coaches in June 1992. Go-Ahead Northern also became asubcontractor toNational Express, operating services to the Midlands, North East, North West and South West England.[4][5] Around the same time, Go-Ahead Leisure purchased a number ofpubs,[4] which were sold on during February 1996.[5]
Despite bidding for a number of other larger bus operators in the intervening period, Go-Ahead's first major acquisition wasBrighton & Hove in November 1993,[4][6][7] followed by theOxford Bus Company and Wycombe Bus Company in March 1994.[4] In May 1997, theBrighton & Hove operation expanded with the acquisition of the former municipal operator Brighton Transport.[8] During September 1999,Metrobus, a large operator operating in London, Surrey and Sussex was acquired.[6][9]
Initially, Go-Ahead was structured as an unlisted public company and was owned 90 percent by its management. In May 1994, it wasfloated on theLondon Stock Exchange.[4][10]
In October 1994, Go-Ahead purchasedLondon Central during theprivatisation of London Buses.[3][7][11] In March 1995,OK Motor Services was purchased and integrated into theGo North East operation.[11][12] In June 1996, a second London bus operation,London General, was acquired from the management team that had purchased it when privatised.[3][5][7]
In October 1998, Go-Ahead diversified with the acquisition ofGatwick Handling International, a provider of ground handling services at UK airports.[13] Go-Ahead acquired the ground handling operations ofBritish Midland and Midland Airport Services in March 2001, followed by Reed Aviation in August 2001. All these operations, including at Gatwick, all were rebranded asAviance.[14]
In May 2002, Go-Ahead diversified again,[15] acquiring airport-focusedMeteor Parking.[16] Included in the purchase of Gatwick Handling International in 1998 was a 50% shareholding inPlane Handling, and in August 2004 Go-Ahead purchased the remaining 50% fromVirgin Aviation.[17] In December 2006Gatwick Airport parking operator PAS was purchased and integrated into Meteor Parking, followed by security provider Nikaro in February 2007.[18]
In January 2010, Go-Ahead disposed of most of its airport-based operations via a sale toDnata UK andServisair.[19] In September 2010, Meteor Parking was sold toVinci SA, bringing Go-Ahead's involvement in the aviation support industry to a close.[20]
In October 1996, Go-Ahead entered the UK rail market when it commenced operating theThames Trains franchise, which it ran until March 2004. The franchise was awarded by theDirector of Passenger Rail Franchising to Victory Rail Holdings; Go-Ahead owned 65% of the shares in Victory Rail Holdings with the remaining 35% held by some exBritish Rail managers and employees.[8] Go-Ahead bought the remaining shares it did not own in June 1998.[21]
Also in 1996, Go-Ahead entered into theGovia joint venture with French company VIA-GTI (which later becameKeolis), in order to bid for more UK rail franchises. Govia was 65% owned by Go-Ahead. Govia was awarded theThameslink franchise, which it ran from March 1997 until March 2006.[22]
During August 2001,Govia started running the South Central rail franchise. In October 2000, the ShadowStrategic Rail Authority awarded Govia the South Central rail franchise with operations due to commence in May 2003 when theConnex South Central franchise expired.[23] Govia negotiated a deal withConnex to buy out the remainder of its franchise.[24][25]
During July 2000, French government ownedCaisse des Dépts-Développement (C3D) submitted a bid to purchase Go-Ahead; this offer, which was valued at £326 million, was promptly rejected by the company. Ahostile takeover bid was issued by C3D one month later; it was declared to be "unwelcome" by Go-Ahead chairman Sir Frederick Holliday.[26] Go-Ahead pledged to fight for its independence and promoted its expansion plans to shareholders to persuade them to back the existing management team. C3D sought to integrate Go-Ahead with itsTransdev S.A. bus and light rail operator.[27][28] In October 2000, C3D's takeover effort came to nought.[29][30]
Go-Ahead entered into two joint ventures withVIA-GTI andBK Tåg to operate rail services in Sweden. Go-Ahead had a 39% stake in City Pendeln AB which was to operate the Citypendeln commuter rail business inStockholm. Go-Ahead also had a 29% stake in Sydvasten AB which operated rail services betweenGothenburg andMalmö. Go-Ahead decided to exit from both ventures in May 2000.[9][31]
Wycombe Bus Company was sold toArriva in December 2000.[14]
In August 2003, theWilts & Dorset bus business was purchased.[32] In June 2005Solent Blue Line andSouthern Vectis were purchased.[17] In September 2005, theLewes andSeaford operations ofStagecoach South were acquired and integrated into theBrighton & Hove business.[33]
During December 2005, Go-Ahead purchased The Birmingham Coach Company, which operated express coaches under contract forNational Express and local bus services in the West Midlands under theDiamond Bus name.[6][33] Go-Ahead had been known for some time to be keen to begin operating in the area. In February 2006, another operator in the West Midlands,Probus Management, trading as People's Express, was purchased.[6][33]
In August 2006, the Birmingham Coach Company (trading as Diamond Bus) and Probus operations were regrouped under theGo West Midlands Limited legal entity, with the bus operations branded as Diamond in the West Midlands.[34] In February 2006, the Hants & Dorset Trim bus refurbishment business was purchased.[33] In April 2006, theGovia joint venture commenced operating theSouth Eastern franchise asSoutheastern.[35]
During September 2006,Docklands Buses was acquired and integrated intoGo-Ahead London, followed in October 2006 byMarchwood Motorways which was integrated intoGo South Coast.[18][36]
In June 2007,Blue Triangle was acquired and integrated into Go-Ahead London.[18] In September 2007, Northumbria Coaches was purchased and integrated intoGo North East, followed by Stanley Buses (the bus service subsidiary of Stanley Taxis) in October 2007, and Redby Buses in January 2008.[37] In November 2007,Govia began operating theLondon Midland rail franchise.[18] In December 2007, theOrpington services ofFirst London were acquired.[37]
In February 2008, Go-Ahead soldGo West Midlands toRotala'sCentral Connect, two years after purchasing the company.[37] In June 2008, theGatwick Express rail service was incorporated intoSouthern.[37] In October 2009,East Thames Buses was acquired and integrated intoGo-Ahead London as well as the Horsham operations ofArriva Southern Counties that were integrated intoMetrobus.[38] In December 2009,Plymouth Citybus was purchased fromPlymouth City Council.[38] In March 2010,Konectbus in Norfolk was purchased as well as theHexham operations ofArriva North East and integrated intoGo North East.[20]
In August 2010, Go-Ahead America, a joint venture with Cook Illinois in which Go-Ahead held a 50% stake, commenced operating a yellow school bus contract inSt Louis,Missouri.[20] In July 2014, Go-Ahead exited the United States following the loss of its yellow bus contract.[39][40]
In May 2011, Go-Ahead acquiredThames Travel inSouth Oxfordshire.[20] Acquisitions in 2012 wereCarousel Buses (March) integrated intoOxford Bus Company, Essex-basedHedingham (March), theNorthumberland Park-based operations ofFirst London (March),Anglian Bus (April) inNorfolk andSuffolk, andHC Chambers & Son, Suffolk (June) (immediately operationally merged with Hedingham).[41]
In March 2012, theDepartment for Transport announced that Go-Ahead, along withAbellio,FirstGroup,MTR, andStagecoach, had been shortlisted for the newly createdThameslink, Southern & Great Northern franchise.[42] During May 2014, Govia was awarded the new franchise.[43][44] This franchise is unusual as a management contract where fare income does not go to GTR, which is simply paid a fee for operating the service, so GTR carries less revenue risk. This form of franchise was chosen because of long-term engineering works anticipated around London, which would be a significant challenge to organise within the normal form of franchise.[45][46]
During November 2015,Go-Ahead Singapore was awarded a contract to operate 25 bus services in Singapore previously operated bySBS Transit out ofLoyang Bus Depot, which commenced on 4 September 2016.[47] In the same month,Go-Ahead Germany were awarded two rail contracts inStuttgart, Germany. The contracts commenced in 2019–2020.[48]
In August 2017, Go-Ahead won a tender to run 24 routes inIreland previously operated byDublin Bus.Go-Ahead Ireland commenced the contract with theNational Transport Authority to operate these routes on 9 September 2018.[49][50][51][52] In June 2018,East Yorkshire Motor Services was purchased with over 300 buses.[53] In January 2019, Go-Ahead Ireland commenced operating a further six routes betweenDublin and its outlying commuter towns, previously operated byBus Éireann.[54][55] By 2022, the National Transport Authority indicated that it was not satisfied with Go-Ahead's performance, but extended the contract to October 2024 on the basis that it would be too disruptive to bus services to re-tender the contract.[56] Go-Ahead has been penalised by the National Transport Authority for failing to meet minimum performance standards in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.[57][58][59][60]
During October 2018, Go-Ahead won a tender to run the Oslo south package, consisting of three routes previously operated by NSB.Go-Ahead Nordic commenced the contract with theNorwegian Railway Directorate to operate these routes in December 2019.[61]
In February 2019, Go-Ahead announced it would buyFirst Greater Manchester'sCheetham Hill depot with 163 buses and brand itGo North West.[62][63][64]
During March 2020,Go Cornwall Bus partnered withCornwall Council and local operators to form a newTransport for Cornwall brand, with plans calling for an additional 130 vehicles.[65]
On 28 September 2021, the Department for Transport announced it would terminate theSoutheastern franchise the following month after the discovery of financial misconduct.[66] Southeastern had not declared over £25 million that should have been repaid to the government in the period since 2014. Go-Ahead's Chief Financial Officer resigned over this matter.[67]
On 9 December 2021, the company announced that its auditors needed more time to consider the implications of the misconduct and potential fines from the Department for Transport (DfT). Consequently, the annual results would not be ready at the end of the company's financial year on 2 January 2022, which would oblige the company to request suspension of trading in its shares. The share price fell by about 15% on the day of the announcement.[68]
On 24 February 2022, Go-Ahead published their delayed 2020–21 results, and announced the outcome of investigations into the termination of the franchise. The review found that "serious errors had been made” since 2006, with the expected cost to the company to be over £80 million.[69][70] The amount owed to the DfT was increased to £51.3 million, with errors dating back to 2006.[69][70] Go-Ahead also stated that they expect to have to pay a fine to the DfT, setting aside up to £30 million for this.[71] Go-Ahead also stated that they may also owe DfT an additional £21.3 million, related to a dispute over profit sharing.[70]
On 13 June 2022, a consortium of Australia'sKinetic Group (51%) and Spain'sGlobalvia (49%) launched a takeover bid of Go-Ahead, initially valuing the company at £647 million.[72][73] Two months later, the offer was increased to £669 million.[74] Shortly thereafter, 78.6% of Go-Ahead's shareholders voted to accept the offer.[75][76]
During January 2023, it was announced that Go-Ahead was expanding into the Australian market via theU-Go Mobility joint venture with the engineering companyUFL; this venture had been recently awarded a contract by Transport New South Wales to operate buses inSydney.[77] In June 2023, Go-Ahead bought Pulhams Coaches, expanding its presence into theCotswolds.[78]
In mid 2023, Go-Ahead Group announced that it was procuring a new fleet ofhydrogen fuel cell buses to serve routes aroundGatwick Airport,Crawley, andHorley; comprising 54 vehicles, it will be one of the largest hydrogen bus fleets present in the UK.[79] The company has also invested £30 million on establishing a liquid hydrogen refuelling station, the first such facility serving buses in Europe.[80]
On 12 October 2023, the company entered into an agreement to sellGo-Ahead Germany toÖBB; the sales process was completed on 1 February 2024, after approvals have been obtained from various international authorities under competition law.[81]
In January 2024,Connecting Stockholm, which is majority-owned by Go-Ahead (55%) was awarded the operation contract for theStockholm Metro system. The contract will be worth approximatelySEK 40 billion over its 11 year period and commenced in November 2025, taking over fromMTR.[82][83]
In January 2025, Proctors Coaches was awarded the operation contract byWest Yorkshire Metro for the 571 service linkingHalifax, West Yorkshire,Brighouse andShelf, West Yorkshire commencing the start of the Go-Ahead West Yorkshire operation.[84] In July 2025, the operation expanded from the acquisition of services 112/112A linkingBatley andOssett as well as service 213 linkingDewsbury, Batley andMorley, West Yorkshire.[85][86] Following the withdrawal of services X98/X99 byTransdev Blazefield, Go Ahead West Yorkshire acquired both services under the Proctors Coaches trading name while utilising the Go-Ahead West Yorkshire brand.[87][88]
The company's operations include:[89]
The company operates the following UK rail franchises as part of joint ventures:
The company also operates railway lines internationally:
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |