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]

Go South Coast
ParentGo-Ahead Group
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
HeadquartersPoole
Service areaDorset
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Wiltshire
Somerset[1]
Service typeBus & coach services
Depots13
Fleet850 [2]
Annual ridership46 million (June 2014)[2]
Chief executiveAndrew Wickham
Websitegosouthcoast.co.uk Edit this at Wikidata

History

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Wilts & Dorset Scania OmniCity in Salisbury in July 2009
 
Bluestar Mercedes-Benz Citaro in Southampton in August 2008
 
Southern Vectis Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL in Newport in August 2008

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

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All public bus services come under local brands, which have distinct liveries. These are:

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

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As at May 2023, Go South Coast operated over 850 buses and coaches from thirteen depots.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Swindon's Bus Company X76 timetable".
  2. ^ a b c "About Go South Coast". Go South Coast.
  3. ^ Companies House extract: Company no 3949597 – Go South Coast Limited formerly Southern Vectis Transport Limited
  4. ^ "Go South Coast" Buses issue 714 September 2014 page 72
  5. ^ Bus buy for Go-Ahead The Guardian 12 August 2003
  6. ^ Recommended Cash Offer for Southern Vectis plc Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 11 July 2005
  7. ^ Acquisition of Hants & Dorset Tram Limited Archived 2 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 6 February 2006
  8. ^ Acquisition of Marchwood Buses Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 24 October 2006
  9. ^ Go-Ahead purchases Marchwood Motorways Archived 6 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine busandcoach.com 26 October 2006
  10. ^ "Swindon council sells loss-making Thamesdown Transport bus firm". BBC News: Wiltshire. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Excelsior Coaches". Retrieved 13 May 2021.
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