Go-Ahead acquires four coach operators

The Go-Ahead Group has acquired four regional coach companies.

It is acquiring Procters Coaches in North Yorkshire; Compass Royston serving Stockton, Middlesbrough and Teesside; Esk Valley operating in North and East Riding of Yorkshire and Fourway Coaches in West Yorkshire.

This sees Go-Ahead take on 200 new employees and a fleet of 140 vehicles across five depots. The operator says the acquisitions significantly strengthens Go-Ahead’s foothold in the region and continues to build key relationships with local authorities and commercial partners. It says the increased capacity will facilitate improved connectivity for customers.

These established and successful companies collectively bring to Go-Ahead a wealth of experience and a diverse range of services, including tendered local bus routes, home-to-school transport, private hire and commercial contracts.

“This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Go-Ahead’s overarching mission to provide reliable, accessible, and sustainable transport solutions” – Matt Carney, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Bus

Matt Carney, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Bus said: “This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Go-Ahead’s overarching mission to provide reliable, accessible, and sustainable transport solutions. We are committed to upholding our values of caring for our customers, our team, and our communities, while maintaining our position as trusted industry leaders.”

The acquisition builds upon Go-Ahead’s existing operations in the region, complementing the success of East Yorkshire Buses. Over recent years, East Yorkshire Buses has expanded its geographical footprint with notable contracts, including JustGo North Lincs in 2020 and more recently the North Riding services operating in North Yorkshire, demonstrating a record of success in regional expansion. Recent customer satisfaction surveys by independent watchdog, Transport Focus, placed East Yorkshire Buses as one of the top performers in the UK, as its operations in the East Riding achieved 90% overall satisfaction rate.

“…this acquisition represents a milestone in our growth journey” – Ben Gilligan, Managing Director for East Yorkshire Buses

Ben Gilligan, Managing Director for East Yorkshire Buses, said: “We are excited to welcome these reputable companies into the Go-Ahead family, this acquisition represents a milestone in our growth journey, allowing us to expand our operations across a broader geography in Yorkshire.”

“We’re proud of everything we’ve achieved in the past 30 years” – Kevin Procter, who founded Procters Coaches

Kevin Procter, who founded Procters Coaches in 1990, said: “We’re proud of everything we’ve achieved in the past 30 years. I turned my father’s taxi company into Procters Coaches, starting with one minibus and one large coach. We have been on a journey of growth and innovation, and we are excited to hand over to the trusted Go-Ahead Group. We are fully supportive of Go-Ahead’s commitment to our team and their approach to driving positive change in the UK coach market, for local communities, customers, and the region.”