Go-Ahead London is a major bus operator in Greater London. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands. It is currently (as of November 2024) the largest bus operator in Greater London, operating a total of 157 bus routes mainly in South and Central London as well as some services into North and East London with a fleet size of 2270 vehicles under contract to Transport for London.[2] It is also the largest operator of electric buses in London, with a total of 540 electric vehicles.
History
Go-Ahead London FastrackEnviro200 bus at Gravesend Bus Hub on 10 November 2024
The Go-Ahead Group is a large transport group based in Newcastle. It first became involved in London bus operations in September 1994, whereupon the privatisation of London Buses, it purchased London Central for £23.8 million.[3] In May 1996, it added another former London Buses subsidiary, London General, which had been sold in 1994 to a management buyout for £46 million.[4][5] These two companies subsequently developed in much the same way, both establishing a livery of red with a charcoal skirt and yellow relief band, and splitting orders for new buses.
Further expansion did not occur until September 2006, when Docklands Buses was purchased.[6][better source needed] On 29 June 2007, Go-Ahead London purchased Blue Triangle. With these purchases, Go-Ahead London surpassed Arriva London to become the largest operator of buses in London, running around 16% of London bus services.
A corporate image for Go-Ahead London bus routes started to appear in August 2008, when a new Go-Ahead London logo was unveiled.[7][better source needed]
In 2009, Transport for London invited bids for the sale of their own bus operations which ran under the East Thames Buses brand. Go-Ahead London were selected as the preferred bidder and assumed full responsibility for 10 routes and two depots in October that year. The East Thames Buses brand was replaced with the Go-Ahead London brand. The East Thames Buses operations were initially absorbed under the London General arm of Go-Ahead London's business. However, after some route movements and allocation changes some of the services now run under the London Central arm of Go-Ahead London's business.
On 30 March 2012, Go-Ahead London purchased Northumberland Park garage from First London with all routes brought under the London General arm of Go-Ahead London's business.[8]
On 1 April 2014, the Go-Ahead Group restructured its Metrobus business, with the management of the Transport for London contracted services passing to the control of the London General arm of Go-Ahead London's business, with the remaining commercial services being brought under the control of Brighton & Hove from 1 July 2014. Services are now operated under an expanded London General licence, however the Metrobus trading name is partially retained.[9]London General's licence was formally increased by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency on 25 April 2014 to accommodate the Metrobus buses.[10][11]
