Go South Coast
 | |
| Parent | Go-Ahead Group |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Poole |
| Service area | Dorset Hampshire Isle of Wight Wiltshire Somerset[1] |
| Service type | Bus & coach services |
| Depots | 13 |
| Fleet | 850 [2] |
| Annual ridership | 46 million (June 2014)[2] |
| Chief executive | Andrew Wickham |
| Website | gosouthcoast |
Go South Coast[3] is a bus operator on the south coast of England. It is a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group. All services under the company come under its operating certificate, however the buses run under a multitude of brands.[4]
History[edit]
In August 2003 the Go-Ahead Group purchased the business of Wilts & Dorset, including its Damory Coaches and Tourist Group subsidiaries,[5] followed in July 2005 by Southern Vectis including its Solent Blue Line subsidiary.[6] In February 2006 Wilts & Dorset purchased bus refurbishment company Hants & Dorset Trim.[7]
Later in 2006, Go-Ahead consolidated the management of its south coast operations under Go South Coast in Poole.
In October 2006 Marchwood Motorways was purchased, with it being integrated into Bluestar.[8][9]
Thamesdown Transport was purchased from Swindon Borough Council in February 2017.[10]
Subsidiaries[edit]
All public bus services come under local brands, which have distinct liveries. These are:
- Bluestar – The brand for Southampton and the surrounding area.
- Unilink – Contracted to provide services for the University of Southampton
- Morebus – The brand for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, as well as the surrounding areas.
- UNIBUS – The brand for Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth services.
- Salisbury Reds – The brand for Salisbury, as well as the surrounding area.
- Southern Vectis – The brand for all buses on the Isle of Wight
- Swindon's Bus Company (formerly Thamesdown Transport) – The brand in Swindon.
The company also has three coach brands:[11]
- Excelsior Coaches – Bournemouth, offering private coach hire, school services and tours
- Damory Coaches – school buses and services in central East Dorset
- Tourist Group – Dorset and Wiltshire, providing services to schools in Wiltshire.
Finally, the company has a bus refurbishment and repair shop, called 'Hants and Dorset Trim'. The company is based in Eastleigh.
Fleet[edit]
As at May 2023, Go South Coast operated over 850 buses and coaches from thirteen depots.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ "Swindon's Bus Company X76 timetable".
- ^ a b c "About Go South Coast". Go South Coast.
- ^ Companies House extract: Company no 3949597 – Go South Coast Limited formerly Southern Vectis Transport Limited
- ^ "Go South Coast" Buses issue 714 September 2014 page 72
- ^ Bus buy for Go-Ahead The Guardian 12 August 2003
- ^ Recommended Cash Offer for Southern Vectis plc Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 11 July 2005
- ^ Acquisition of Hants & Dorset Tram Limited Archived 2 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 6 February 2006
- ^ Acquisition of Marchwood Buses Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 24 October 2006
- ^ Go-Ahead purchases Marchwood Motorways Archived 6 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine busandcoach.com 26 October 2006
- ^ "Swindon council sells loss-making Thamesdown Transport bus firm". BBC News: Wiltshire. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ "Excelsior Coaches". Retrieved 13 May 2021.