Go-Ahead Group

Go-Ahead is a company founded in 1987 British transport company, which operates buses and trains. His main area of ​​operations is in the southeast of the United Kingdom. The Go- Ahead Group wholly owns eight bus companies that daily carry its own account with a fleet of 3,800 buses for the 1.7 million passengers and make up the main operating profit. The railway sector consists of the rail operator Govia, which is 65 percent owned by Go-Ahead and 35 percent owned by the French company Keolis. Go-Ahead is also active in the American school bus market. The operated under the name Aviance UK ground handling service provider was in 2010 mainly over at Servisair. Also in 2010, sold to Go-Ahead parking operator Meteor.

Go-Ahead employs 22,570 people and has an annual turnover of 2,201.6 million pounds ( July 2010).

History

Go-Ahead was created in 1987 during the privatization of urban bus networks and the incipient dissolution of the state bus company National Bus Company. Based in Gateshead original Northern General Transport Company was formed here by a management buy -out to Go-Ahead Northern. In 1993, the company created by the acquisition of Brighton & Hove a foothold in the south of the United Kingdom. In the following year, Go-Ahead appropriated the Oxford Bus Company and increased with the acquisition of a London Central to London's bus business. Also in 1994 the company went under the name of The Go- Ahead Group on the stock market. Through the acquisition of London General in 1996, Go- Ahead's participation in the London transport network has been greatly expanded.

The deregulation of the British railways led in 1996 to the entrance Go- Ahead in the rail market, including from 1997, together with the former VIA GTI as operator of the route Thameslink 2006. Another new industry is Go-Ahead in 1998 opened up with the takeover of the London Gatwick airport service handling. 1999 Metrobus collided with a bus company to the group, which operates in London and surrounding counties.

In 2000, the concession of the Connex South Central on Govia went over who attended the network under the name South Central, Southern later. 2002 Go-Ahead acquired the parking operator Meteor, who remained until 2010 part of the company. With the acquisition of Wilts & Dorset in 2003 enlarged Go-Ahead market share in the south. Later Wilts & Dorset was formed together with the employers on the Isle of Wight and companies acquired in 2005 Southern Vectis and the Solent Blue Line to Go South Coast.

In April 2006, Govia took over the South Eastern franchise. From the 2005 and acquired in 2006 by Go-Ahead bus Birmingham Coach Company and Probus Management, the Contractors Go West Midlands, based in Birmingham was formed, which was repelled back after losses in 2008. With Dockland Buses came in 2006 another London bus company added. 2007 became Govia the West Midlands Francise which it operates, via London Midland, and acquired the bus company Blue Triangle. The London bus companies operate under the name of Go-Ahead London.

2009 Plymouth Citybus purchased Go-Ahead from City ownership and London's East Thames Buses, which was owned by Transport for London. In the same year, the company entered into a joint venture with Cook - Illinois Corporation of Chicago, to enter the American school bus market. The year 2010 saw the adoption of the Norfolkers Konectbus, the following year, Thames Travel was taken from Oxfordshire.

Divisions

Bus

• Go Ahead London ( London) London Central, London General, Blue Triangle, Docklands Buses, East Thames Buses

• Southern Vectis, Bluestar, Wilts & Dorset, Damory coaches, tourist coaches, Marchwood Motorways

Railway

• Southeastern (London, Kent, East Sussex )
• Southern ( London, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Gatwick Express)
• London Midland (London, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Birmingham / West Midlands, Liverpool)