Kent-based Go-Coach has changed ownership, returning to being fully independent and locally owned.

The bus operator was acquired by Hulleys of Baslow in December 2023, but has now returned to Austin Blackburn’s ownership. Austin previously ran the business until December 2023 and completed a management buyout on 28 February 2025. Austin will continue in his role as Engineering Director.
A new Managing Director and other Senior management members will join the business in the coming months to ensure stability for all staff and customers. The core focus of the business will continue to be providing quality, reliable and sustainable services and further building on its relationship with Kent County Council and other authorities.

The business operates 40 routes in North and West Kent, serving over 3,000 customers daily and linking many destinations, covering the Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells areas.

Go-Coach will continue to serve passengers in North and West Kent from its historic art deco depot in Swanley, which will celebrate 100 years of operation in August 2025. To celebrate this, Go-Coach will host an open day on 23 August, with many exciting historic and current vehicles attending to celebrate the history of the depot.

In addition to operating buses, Go-Coach operates a commercial workshop that provides bus servicing and repairs to external customers. It also undertakes full vehicle refurbishment and accident repairs.

Austin Blackburn, Engineering Director at Go-Coach, said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring Go-Coach back under local management and ownership and very excited about the future.

“We are building an expert team who will expand our innovative operational approach and ensure that we strengthen and grow the business for our customers, staff and communities.

“We are open for business and look forward to growing our business to provide more commercial, contracted and rail replacement services for the future as well as seeking new areas to grow.  We are also very excited about expanding our innovative demand response transit service, bringing brand new electric vehicles to the Go2 service in Ebbsfleet in the coming months.”

First for new Wrightbus Rightech vehicle

The business has recently invested in the latest EV technology and infrastructure and will become the first operator to invest in the newly launched Wrightbus Rightech RB6 vehicles. These 6m buses will operate on its demand responsive transit (DRT) service Go2, which will operate around Ebbsfleet.

• Look out for more on this story in our next issue (1699, 21 March 2025)