Go Ahead Group

Go-ahead can trace its roots to the sale of Northern General to its management team in 1987. The group expanded in 1993 with the purchase of City of Oxford and Brighton & Hove. Further expansion saw the Group acquire London Central, London General and Metrobus. Rail privatisation saw Go-Ahead awarded franchises to operate the Thames Trains and Thameslink franchises. The bus operations have seen steady growth with the acquisition of Wilts & Dorset followed by Southern Vectis (and the associated Solent Blue Line fleet) in 2006. These operations are now under common management and form Go South Coast. In 2005 West Midlands based Diamond Bus was acquired although the hoped for expansion did not materialise and the business was subsequently sold. 2009 saw Plymouth CityBus join the Group's portfolio. This book chronicles Go-Ahead's involvement in the bus industry from 1987 onwards and also includes its entry into the rail industry in the 1990s.