22 Facts About Go-Ahead Group

Go-Ahead Group plc is a passenger transport company based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, with operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, Norway and Germany.

Go-Ahead Group was originally founded as Go-Ahead Northern Limited on 17 February 1987 as a consequence of the privatisation of the National Bus Company, during which a partial management buyout led by Martin Ballinger and Chris Moyes purchased its Gateshead-based northern division, known as the Northern General Transport Company.

Go-Ahead Group Northern became a subcontractor to National Express, operating services to the Midlands, North East, North West and South West England.

Around the same time, Go-Ahead Group Leisure purchased a number of pubs, which were sold on during February 1996.

In October 1994, Go-Ahead Group purchased London Central during the privatisation of London Buses.

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Go-Ahead Group acquired the ground handling operations of British Midland and Midland Airport Services in March 2001 followed by Reed Aviation in August 2001.

In January 2010, Go-Ahead Group disposed of most of its airport-based operations via a sale to Dnata UK and Servisair.

In October 1996, Go-Ahead Group entered the UK rail market when it commenced operating the Thames Trains franchise which it ran until March 2004.

Go-Ahead Group bought the remaining shares it did not own in June 1998.

In 2000, Go-Ahead Group entered two joint ventures with VIA-GTI and BK Tag to operate rail services in Sweden.

In December 2005, Go-Ahead Group purchased The Birmingham Coach Company, which operated express coaches under contract for National Express and local bus services in the West Midlands under the Diamond Bus name.

Go-Ahead Group had been known for some time to be keen to begin operating in the area.

In September 2006, Docklands Buses was acquired and integrated into Go-Ahead Group London, followed in October 2006 by Marchwood Motorways which was integrated into Go South Coast.

In February 2008, Go-Ahead Group sold Go West Midlands to Rotala's Central Connect, two years after purchasing the company.

In July 2014, Go-Ahead Group exited the United States following the loss of its yellow bus contract.

In November 2015, Go-Ahead Group Singapore was awarded a contract to operate 25 bus services in Singapore previously operated by SBS Transit out of Loyang Bus Depot, which commenced on 4 September 2016.

Go-Ahead Group Ireland commenced the contract with the National Transport Authority to operate these routes on 9 September 2018.

In January 2019, Go-Ahead Group Ireland commenced operating a further six routes between Dublin and its outlying commuter towns, previously operated by Bus Eireann.

In October 2018, Go-Ahead Group won a tender to run the Oslo south package, consisting of three routes previously operated by NSB.

Go-Ahead Group Norge commenced the contract with the Norwegian Railway Directorate to operate these routes in December 2019.

In February 2019, Go-Ahead Group announced it would buy First Greater Manchester's Cheetham Hill depot with 163 buses and brand it Go North West.

Go-Ahead Group stated that they expect to have to pay a fine to the DfT, setting aside up to £30million for this.