Go South Coast

Go South Coast[2] is a bus operator on and around the south coast of England. It is a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group.

Go South Coast
ParentGo-Ahead Group
Founded2005 (2005)
HeadquartersPoole
Service areaDorset
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Wiltshire
Service typeBus & coach services
Depots9
Fleet760 (May 2015)[1]
Annual ridership46 million (June 2014)[1]
Chief executiveAndrew Wickham
Websitegosouthcoast.co.uk

History
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,[3] followed in July 2005 by Southern Vectis including its Solent Blue Line subsidiary.[4]

In February 2006 Wilts & Dorset purchased bus refurbishment company Hants & Dorset Trim.[5] At this stage, Go-Ahead consolidated the management of its south coast operations under Go South Coast in Poole. In October 2006 Marchwood Motorways was purchased.[6][7]

Thamesdown Transport was purchased from Swindon Borough Council in February 2017.[8]

Subsidiaries

Go South Coast originally did not operate any buses in its own right, all being operated by subsidiary companies. Operators in italics are considered part of and managed by the bigger company above.

The company has three coach brands:[9]

  • 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.

In June 2014, all the subsidiary companies' vehicles were brought together under the Go South Coast licence.[10]

Fleet

As at May 2023, Go South Coast operated over 850 buses and coaches from nine depots.[1]

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