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News Category: Corporate

Go-Ahead strengthens rail team in Australia and New Zealand

06 March 2025

Go-Ahead strengthens rail team in Australia and New Zealand

Go-Ahead has appointed Michael Contreras as Executive Director, Rail Operations, Australia and New Zealand.

Michael has extensive experience leading large-scale public transport operations and joins from the Department of Transport & Planning, Victoria, Australia where he was Director of Operations & Performance. He spent over twelve years at Metro Trains Melbourne in key senior roles, such  as General Manager, Network Operations

Go-Ahead has recently opened a new office in Melbourne, to explore rail opportunities in Australia and New Zealand where it can apply its knowledge of operating large and complex rail operations for millions of customers.

Go-Ahead operates billions of rail journeys each year for customers in the UK and the Nordics and will soon take over operations of the iconic Elizabeth line in London, the new flagship railway network in London, and Stockholm Metro, the largest public transport contract in continental Europe.

Patrick Verwer, CEO, Rail, Go-Ahead said: “Michael joins Go-Ahead at a very exciting time and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team. We’re growing our rail operations with the Elizabeth Line and Stockholm Metro and excited to assess new opportunities in Australia and New Zealand.”

Go-Ahead opens a new office to target rail opportunities in Australia and New Zealand

17 February 2025

Go-Ahead opens a new office to target rail opportunities in Australia and New Zealand

Go-Ahead has opened a new office in Melbourne to explore rail opportunities in Australia and New Zealand, where it can apply its knowledge of operating large and complex rail operations for millions of customers.

Go-Ahead operates billions of rail journeys each year for customers in the UK and the Nordics. It has established itself as a trusted partner, working on complex operations to deliver reliable, punctual and welcoming rail services.

In the UK, Go-Ahead is one of the largest rail operators. Through Govia Thameslink Railway, which manages four rail companies in the south of England, it is responsible for almost 20% of all UK rail journeys. It operates over 1 billion journeys every year and is a leader in adopting new technology, including leading the introduction of digital signalling on the UK mainline rail network. From May 2025, Go-Ahead will take over the operation of the iconic Elizabeth line in London, the new flagship railway network in London that has quickly become one of the most popular and fastest growing railways in the country, serving more than 700,000 customers a day.

Go-Ahead is also expanding its rail operations in the Nordics, where it already runs services in Norway. Later this year, Go-Ahead will start operating Stockholm’s Metro network, as part of the largest public transport contract in continental Europe, serving 350 million passengers annually.

Piero McCarthy has been appointed as Business Development Director for Go-Ahead Rail, Australia and New Zealand. Piero brings twenty years’ worth of industry experience and has held senior business development roles at Go-Ahead and led operations within the UK’s largest rail franchise, Govia Thameslink Railway.

Patrick Verwer, CEO, Rail, Go-Ahead said: “We have ambitious plans to build on our recent success and continue to grow our rail operations. We’re excited about exploring opportunities in Australia and New Zealand where we can apply our experience of operating busy, complex transport networks.”

Go-Ahead expands West of England operations with acquisition of Swanbrook Transport

25 November 2024

Go-Ahead expands West of England operations with acquisition of Swanbrook Transport

• Coach operator to become part of Go-Ahead’s Pulhams Coaches operation
• Deal adds to Go-Ahead’s expanding network of UK coach operators

The Go-Ahead Group has agreed a deal to acquire Swanbrook Transport, a bus and coach operator based in Cheltenham.

Swanbrook operates local bus, home to school services and private hire and will become part of Pulhams Coaches, which sits in Go-Ahead’s Oxford division.

This latest deal builds on Go-Ahead’s recent acquisitions across England, including four coach companies across West and North Yorkshire, and the North East which further strengthens its service offering for schools, businesses, private hire and local authority partners.

Go-Ahead is now one of the largest coach operators in the UK with over 400 coaches from the South West to the North East, integrating its network with existing bus operations.

“”
Pulhams Coaches already has an excellent reputation in the Cheltenham area as both a local bus operator, and as specialist providers of coach services. Our acquisition of another reputable operator in the area in Swanbrook is an exciting opportunity to provide an even greater range of services locally and integrate it with our existing network.

Luke Marion

Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Company

“”
We’re delighted to welcome Swanbrook to the Go-Ahead Group, and to grow our presence in the UK coach market. As a company, we’re committed to connecting communities, so providing coach services across the country for schools, groups, small business and local authority partners is important to us. This is an exciting expansion of our coach operation to provide for more customers in the West of England.

Matt Carney

CEO – Go-Ahead Bus

“”
We are excited by the opportunities that joining such a prestigious group in Pulhams and Go-Ahead will bring to the company. Having established our business as a well respected operation in the local area we believe this is the natural progression for the business to further develop and be well equipped to meet the challenges of the industry for the future.

John Thomas

Operations Director, Swanbrook Transport Ltd

New appointments to the Go-Ahead Group Board

19 November 2024

New appointments to the Go-Ahead Group Board

The Go-Ahead Group, the UK’s leading international bus and rail public transport operator, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Flood as an independent non-executive director, further strengthening its leadership team and enhancing governance.

Sharon joined the Board in October as non-executive director and chair of the audit committee, bringing a wealth of expertise in finance, strategy, and consumer-focused businesses, alongside deep industry knowledge. Her skills and experience will reinforce Go-Ahead’s governance framework. Sharon’s distinguished career includes executive and non-executive roles, and she currently serves on the boards of Getlink SA, where she chairs safety and security, CityFibre Ltd where she chairs audit and Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust PLC. She has also been a non-executive director at Network Rail, where she served as chair of the audit committee/treasury and chair of environmental sustainability.

Additionally, Mackayla Hanney, Chief Commercial Officer at Kinetic, was appointed to the Board earlier this year as director representing Kinetic, a major shareholder of the Go-Ahead Group. Mackayla has led significant growth initiatives at Kinetic, including the acquisition of Go-Ahead and New Zealand’s Go Bus. She brings valuable commercial expertise and a proven track-record in strategic M&A, tender processes, and stakeholder engagement, which supports Go-Ahead’s growth aspirations in the UK and internationally.

With the recent appointments of Sharon and Mackayla, together with Louise Cheeseman, the Board of Go-Ahead has reached 40% female representation, further enriching its sector expertise while enhancing its commitment to diverse, robust governance.

“”
We are delighted to welcome Sharon and Mackayla to their new roles on the Board of the Go-Ahead Group. Their extensive knowledge and experience will be invaluable for us as they will play a vital role in supporting our management team to deliver its strategic plan of growth, achieving our ambitious decarbonisation and equality targets, and most importantly, delivering on our mission of connecting people and communities around the world.”

Miguel Parras

Group CEO, Go-Ahead

Go East Anglia appoint Rupert Cox as Managing Director

16 August 2024

Go East Anglia appoint Rupert Cox as Managing Director

  • New MD will head up leading bus operator in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk
  • Appointment made following interim period as MD
  • Experience of Rupert Cox will strengthen Go-Ahead’s leadership

The Go-Ahead Group today announces that Rupert Cox has been appointed as the Managing Director of Go East Anglia, effective from 1st September, following a successful period as interim MD, a position he started in June 2024.

Rupert first joined Go-Ahead in March 2024, working on business development projects and stepped into the interim role following Gavin Smith’s move to head up Go-Ahead’s Fastrack network operations in Kent.

Rupert’s industry experience spans two decades with all his career spent at Stagecoach where he began as graduate trainee manager before continuing to build his career through several commercial and operational roles. He then became Managing Director for the company covering the West of England and his last role was as Regional Director covering the South and Midlands in England.

Martin Dean, Managing Director of UK Regional Bus, Go-Ahead Group said “We’re delighted to appoint Rupert permanently as the Managing Director of Go East Anglia. He is an experienced and knowledgeable industry leader, with a track-record of delivering for customers, and his extensive career in bus will undoubtedly benefit our business.”

Rupert Cox, Interim Managing Director of Go East Anglia said “I am excited to have been appointed as the Managing Director of Go East Anglia. I’m looking forward to working in partnership with our transport authorities to grow our network across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk and deliver services that benefit our customers and the communities that we serve”.

Go East Anglia is part of the Go-Ahead Group, and manages two operators, Konectbus and Hedingham and Chambers.

Go East Anglia Managing Director to take on new role leading Go-Ahead’s Fastrack operations in Kent

14 June 2024

Go East Anglia Managing Director to take on new role leading Go-Ahead’s Fastrack operations in Kent

  • Experienced bus industry leader Gavin Smith to head up the team responsible for the Fastrack contract in Kent
  • Rupert Cox, currently working in business development at Go East Anglia appointed as MD on an interim basis
  • The Fastrack contract will run for 15-years with Go-Ahead operating routes from November 2024

The Go-Ahead Group today announces that Gavin Smith, Managing Director of Go East Anglia will transition to a new role within the Go-Ahead Group, effective from 17 June. Gavin will head up the team delivering the Fastrack network in Kent, a 15-year contract worth £110 million which Go-Ahead will operate from November 2024.

Gavin has worked in the public transport industry for over 20 years, starting his career as a bus driver in London before progressing into management roles and later leading the development and mobilisation of Go-Ahead’s River Road depot. He worked as Operations Director of Go-Ahead Singapore and then as Project Director in Australia before becoming Managing Director of Go East Anglia, a role he has held since July 2022.

Gavin will be replaced on an interim basis by Rupert Cox, a highly experienced bus industry professional, formerly a Regional Director for Stagecoach UK Bus, Rupert has worked with Go East Anglia since 1st March this year on business development projects.

Commenting on his move to the new role, Gavin Smith, said “I’m excited to be taking on the job leading the Fastrack network in Kent. Under the new contract, Go-Ahead will continue its decarbonisation journey, transitioning from a diesel to an all-electric fleet to serve our customers and we will welcome over 100 new colleagues to the business”.

He added “Go-Ahead’s investment in people and development has enabled me to build a varied career in the decade that I have been at the company, and I look forward to more success as we mobilise the Fastrack contract in the months to come”.

Martin Dean, Managing Director of UK Regional Bus, Go-Ahead Group said “We’re excited to appoint an experienced leader in Gavin to the role as we move towards the mobilisation of the contract. Gavin’s expertise and focus on delivering high quality services will be crucial as we take on the responsibility for more than 2.5 million people who travel across the Fastrack network annually. We’re also delighted that Rupert, a knowledgeable industry leader, has agreed to take on the role overseeing our East Anglian business, building on his extensive career in bus”.

The Go-Ahead Group to acquire Eastbourne Sightseeing

08 February 2024

The Go-Ahead Group to acquire Eastbourne Sightseeing

  • Open-top bus operator to become part of Go-Ahead’s Brighton & Hove Buses
  • Deal adds to Go-Ahead’s UK-wide portfolio of scenic bus tours
  • Tourist bus route connects with GTR’s Southern Railway services to London

The Go-Ahead Group has agreed a deal to acquire Eastbourne Sightseeing, an operator of scenic bus tours of Eastbourne, Beachy Head, Birling Gap and surrounding areas.

Following the transaction, the business will become part of Go-Ahead’s Brighton & Hove Buses division, expanding the group’s presence in the East Sussex area.

Eastbourne Sightseeing owns nine open-top vehicles, used seasonally to provide popular tours along the seafront, around Eastbourne’s streets and into the South Downs National Park. The business is based at a depot in Ringmer, near Lewes.

The open-top bus tours call at Eastbourne station, which is served by Southern Rail – part of Go-Ahead’s GTR rail network. This will allow customers to catch a train from London to Eastbourne and connect to open-top buses to the South Downs directly using Go-Ahead services.

Brighton & Hove Buses will retain the Eastbourne Sightseeing brand and use its website and marketing expertise to build demand for the tour in the future. Go-Ahead will explore partnership marketing opportunities between Eastbourne Sightseeing and Southern Rail.

Go-Ahead already operates 15 open top bus tours around the UK – including city routes such as Oxford’s City Sightseeing and Newcastle’s Toon Tour; seaside trips including the Clacton Breezer, Scarborough Beachcomber, Bridlington Beachcomber and Needles Breezer, and rural tours such as the New Forest Tours. The open top bus market in Britain is worth an estimated £150 million in revenue annually industry wide.

“”
Eastbourne Sightseeing is a thriving operator offering terrific tours in one of the most scenic parts of the south coast. We intend to build on its success, invest in the business and look at opportunities for expansion

Ed Wills, Managing Director, Brighton & Hove Buses

Go-Ahead has already bought three regional bus companies in 14 months – Dartline in Devon, Southdown in West Sussex and Pulham & Sons in the Cotswolds.

“”
Go-Ahead is an ambitious company with an eye for expansion in the regional bus industry. We aim to invest in communities across the UK and to grow the popularity of bus travel. I’m delighted to welcome Eastbourne Sightseeing into the Go-Ahead Group.

Matt Carney, CEO of The Go-Ahead Group’s bus division

“”
I’m delighted to see the Eastbourne Sightseeing service join Brighton & Hove Buses and the wider Go-Ahead family. We’re incredibly proud of the success of this open top route over the last few years and I have every confidence that the team at Brighton & Hove will continue building and developing the service for the future

David Mulpeter, Managing Director of Seven Sisters Bus & Coach, owner of Eastbourne Sightseeing

Go-Ahead completes sale of German rail operations to ÖBB

01 February 2024

Go-Ahead completes sale of German rail operations to ÖBB

  • Sale of the business follows approval from the European Commission
  • Following completion of the transaction, Go-Ahead no longer operates any rail services in Germany
  • The Go-Ahead Group wishes OBB, the Germany management team and employees well for future operations

The Go-Ahead Group has today completed the sale of its German rail business to ÖBB, the Austrian national rail operator.

After five years of operations, including three rail contracts in Baden-Wurttemberg and two in Bavaria, the sale represents a full exit for Go-Ahead from the German rail market.

We are proud of Go-Ahead’s contribution to Germany rail over this period, having delivered positive outcomes for passengers – including a fleet of new trains, high customer service and increased capacity.

We take this opportunity to thank the management team and all of the employees for their dedication and hard work over these 5 years, and wish them and OBB well for the future.

“”
We’re pleased that the sale of our German rail business has been successfully completed. This is a positive outcome both for The Go-Ahead Group and for our German colleagues.

Go-Ahead continues to pursue opportunities for strategic expansion in both bus and rail in selected markets around the world. I’d like to pay tribute to the dedication and professionalism of all our colleagues in Germany over the last five years. We wish them well under the ownership of ÖBB

Miguel Parras, Group Chief Executive, The Go-Ahead Group

Trains on the network will continue to use the Go-Ahead name in the short term.

The Go-Ahead Group and ComfortDelGro awarded contract to operate Stockholm’s Metro network

23 January 2024

The Go-Ahead Group and ComfortDelGro awarded contract to operate Stockholm’s Metro network

  • Connecting Stockholm joint venture wins 11-year deal
  • Network carries 350 million passengers annually on 106km of track
  • Contract to begin in May 2025, building on Go-Ahead’s rail operations in the UK and Norway

Connecting Stockholm, a joint venture between The Go-Ahead Group and ComfortDelGro, has been awarded a contract by the Traffic Committee in Region Stockholm to operate and maintain the Stockholm Metro network, known as the Tunnelbana.

The contract will be for a term of 11 years starting from May 2025. Connecting Stockholm will operate and maintain metro services across three lines comprising 100 stations, six depots and 106 kilometres of track.

A locally managed joint venture, Connecting Stockholm is 55% owned by Go-Ahead and 45% owned by ComfortDelGro. The combination brings together the two companies’ complementary strengths in rail, urban transport and infrastructure.

Go-Ahead is the majority owner of Govia Thameslink Railway, the UK’s largest and most complex rail network which accounts for one in five UK passenger journeys by train. Go-Ahead is also the biggest bus operator in London. The group already has a presence in Scandinavia through its Go-Ahead Nordic rail network in Norway, and through Flexbuss, a bus operator in southern Sweden.

Meanwhile, ComfortDelGro’s Singapore-listed subsidiary, SBS Transit, runs the Downtown and North East Lines in Singapore – one of the world’s most reliable and punctual metro rail operations . ComfortDelGro also runs Auckland One Rail in New Zealand.

Under the terms of the contract, Connecting Stockholm will be responsible for customer service, the planning and delivery of rail services, fleet and stations maintenance, as well as depot facilities.

Over the course of the contract, Stockholm’s subway will undergo several major changes – including extensions of the city’s blue line to the municipality Nacka east of Stockholm, and of the green line to Arenastaden, north of Stockholm.

“”
We’re delighted to be offered the opportunity to serve the people of Stockholm. This has been a well-run tender process by the Traffic Committee in Region Stockholm and, together with ComfortDelGro, we look forward to working in partnership with them to deliver our plans over the next 11 years. 

Go-Ahead is a successful British company with huge experience in operating busy, complex urban transport networks. This is an exciting contract, and it underlines our ambition to expand in rail operation.

Patrick Verwer, Rail CEO, The Go-Ahead Group

“”
With our proven record in providing operational excellence and customer centric innovation, ComfortDelGro is delighted to be partnering Go-Ahead to operate and maintain the world-class Stockholm Metro system. Together, we can look forward to providing a safe, reliable and positive commuter experience to the people of Stockholm.

Cheng Siak Kian, ComfortDelGro Managing Director / Group CEO

“”
We are really looking forward to starting and developing our business here in Stockholm and, above all, meeting all the dedicated and competent employees who currently work in the metro and welcoming them to Connecting Stockholm in the near future .

Cheng Siak Kian, ComfortDelGro Managing Director / Group CEO

The Go-Ahead Group agrees sale of its German rail business to Austria’s ÖBB

12 October 2023

The Go-Ahead Group agrees sale of its German rail business to Austria’s ÖBB

Transaction means an exit for Go-Ahead from non-core German rail operations

Austria’s national railway company gains a foothold in regional rail passenger transport in Germany. Go-Ahead Germany employs 1,000 people, operates 144 trains and runs 20 million train kilometres annually.

The Go-Ahead Group has reached an agreement to sell its German rail business, Go-Ahead Verkehrsgesellschaft Deutschland GmbH, to Austria’s ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG.

The transaction is subject to competition approval and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Go-Ahead Germany operates three rail contracts in Baden-Wurttemberg and two in Bavaria. Operations in Baden-Wurttemberg began in June 2019, with Bavaria following in December 2021, and the company has delivered positive outcomes for passengers – including a fleet of new trains, high customer service and increased capacity.

The sale of Go-Ahead Germany will future-proof the business and create a platform for ÖBB to enter the German regional rail market and grow in the country.

Customers will benefit from the know-how of ÖBB, which operates 4,400 local trains daily in Austria, transporting 210 million passengers annually with high customer satisfaction and punctuality ratings.

“”
We are proud of the rail services we have delivered to passengers in Germany over the last four years in spite of very challenging conditions. We have introduced a fleet of new trains, we have brought in a very motivated team and established one of the biggest driver training schools in Germany.

I am pleased that we are now able to sell the business in good shape to a well respected rail operator with ambitious plans for the German network.

Go-Ahead remains fully committed to rail in the UK, and to expansion in metropolitan rail elsewhere in the world. I would like to thank all our colleagues in Germany and to offer them our very best wishes for the future.

Christian Schreyer

Group Chief Executive, The Go-Ahead Group

“”
We welcome this investment by ÖBB, which has a very good reputation in Germany. Our business in Germany will be future-proofed and positioned for growth. With ÖBB as a strong partner, this deal offers excellent prospects for our passengers, clients and employees.

Fabian Amini

Managing Director, Go-Ahead Germany