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{{short description|London bus operator}}
]
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
'''Go-Ahead London''' is the trading name used collectively for the London ] operations of the ]. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands. It is the largest bus operator in ], operating a total of 115 bus routes contracted to ].
{{Infobox company

| name = Go-Ahead London
==History==
| logo = Go-Ahead London 2023 Logo.svg
The Go-Ahead Group is a large transport group based in ]. It first became involved in London bus operations in September 1994, where upon the ] of London Buses Limited, it acquired former LBL subsidiary ]. Just under two years later, in May 1996, it added another former LBL subsidiary, ], which had initially been part of a management buyout.<ref> Accessed 13 August 2008.</ref> These two companies subsequently developed in much the same way, both establishing a livery of red with a charcoal skirt and yellow relief band, and splitting orders for new buses.
| image = LHR Go-Ahead London Central Ee202 LG73FTK 40 2023-11-15.jpg

| image_size = 300px
Further expansion did not occur until September 2006, when London General, on behalf of Go-Ahead, purchased ].<ref> Accessed 13 August 2008.</ref> Then, on 29 June 2007, the group acquired the bus operating part of ]. With these purchases, Go-Ahead surpassed ] to become the largest operator of buses in London, running around 16% of London bus services.
| image_alt = A Go-Ahead London red double-decker bus partially displaying a display for route 40 in Southwark, London

| image_caption = Go-Ahead London ] on route 40 in ], November 2023
A corporate image for Go-Ahead's London bus services started to appear in August 2008, when a new "Go-Ahead London" logo<ref> Accessed 13 August 2008.</ref> was unveiled; subsequent new buses carry new style fleetnames incorporating this logo.<ref> Accessed 13 August 2008.</ref><ref> Accessed 13 August 2008.</ref>
| type = ] bus operator

| founded = {{Start date and age|1994|09}}
In 2009, Transport for London (TfL) invited bids for the sale of their own bus operations which ran under the East Thames Buses (ETB) brand. Go-Ahead London were selected as the preferred bidder and assumed full responsibility for ETB, their 10 routes and 2 depots, in October 2009. The ETB brand was discontinued and was replaced with the Go-Ahead London brand. The ETB operations were initially absorbed under the London General arm of Go-Ahead's London business. However, after some route movements and allocation changes some of the services now run under the London Central arm.
| hq_location = 18 Merton High Street, ], England

| area_served = ]
==Current companies==
| key_people = Tom Joyner (Managing Director)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/train-man-head-go-ahead-london|title=Train man to head Go-Ahead London|date=12 June 2024|magazine=] |issue=832 |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing |access-date=3 September 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
The current subsidiaries of Go-Ahead London are, in order of acquisition:
| num_employees = 8,000
{{Unreferenced|date=February 2007}}
| parent = ]
{{Infobox Bus transit
| subsid = {{Plainlist|
| name = London Central
* ]
| logo = London Central logo.png
* ]
| logo_size =
* ]
| image = London Bus route 171.jpg
* ]
| image Size = 240px
| image_caption = A London Central bus on route 171 at Waterloo Station.
| parent = ]
| founded =
| headquarters = ]
| locale = ]
| service_area = ]
| service_type = ]
| routes = 49
| hubs = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]
| fleet = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| ceo =
| operator = ]
| website = http://www.londoncentral.com/
}} }}
| website = {{Official URL}}

'''London Central''' is one of many operators of ]. It was established in late 1988 as one of 12 operating subsidiaries of London Buses Limited (LBL), and was privatised to the ] in September 1994. It operates four bus garages in ], ], ] and ].

In August 2008, Go-Ahead's London operations took up the new trading name of ].

==Garages==
===Bexleyheath (BX)===
As of November 2009, the Bexleyheath garage (BX) holds 150 buses, and runs London bus routes ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and night routes ] and ].

Built as a trolleybus depot by the ], this is the only new garage built for trolleybuses. The depot is a large and imposing building, slightly set back from the main road to enable parking on the forecourt, which was used as a terminus for route 122. Bexleyheath closed in 1986, with work moved to Plumstead, Catford, and Sidcup garages, although it re-opened in 1988 under the guise of Bexleybus, a unit set up by London Buses under de-regulation, and had a large and varied allocation from Iveco/Robin Hood's & ]s to NC Olympians & ]. the move to set up the new company to tender for routes backfired, and in the next round of tendering only the B16 was awarded to ], whilst London Central won nine. London Central took control of the Bexleyheath routes (including B16) from 1990 instead of 1991 and also took over the garage from ]. Lately the garage has had a good utilisation figure, up to 139 in 2001 which necessitated parking in the rear yard and the forecourt. In January 2007, the garage received its first ]s for use on route 486.

Route 132 was transferred to London Central's Bexleyheath garage from London General on 7 November 2009. The 132 was Operated by East Thames Buses which was owned by TFL. TFL sold East Thames to Go-Ahead in October 2009 together with its entire service fleet. The 132's allocation of DW & DWL's moved to BX from BV (Belvedere Depot) when the route was transferred over from BV.

On 1 May 2010, routes 321 (part of its allocation), 661 and 669 was moved to this garage.

]
;Bus types in use
* ] 10.2m/] (LDP) for route 132.
* ]/] 1 (Trainer, NV)
* ]/] 2 (NV) for Commercial work, Private Hire and Rail Replacements.
* ] 10m/] (PVL/VP) for routes 89, 321, 401, 661, 669 and N89.
* ] 10.1m (E) for routes 486 and N21. To be introduced on routes 89, 651 and N89 from January 2012.
* ] 10.2m (SE) for routes B11 and B16.
* ] 10.4m /] (WVL) for routes 229 and 422.
* ] 10.8m/] (DWL) for route 132.
* ] 9.4m/] (DW) for route 132.

===Camberwell (Q)===
]
As of January 2008, the Camberwell garage holds 217 buses, and runs ], ], ], ], ], ], ], 24-hour route ], express route ], and night route ].

Although built in 1914, Camberwell garage was not used as a bus garage until 1919 as it had been requisitioned for the war effort. Once it came into use it was one of Londons biggest garages and also carried out body overhauls in 1940-1941. The garage was bombed during WW2 in 1940 which resulted in 4 buses being destroyed and a further 13 seriously damaged. During the early 1950s the garage underwent modernisation with the welfare & operational block reconstructed and the parking area extended. The new building also incorporated a new pit and workshop layout in a separate self contained block which also undertook heavy maintenance for Walworth Garage, 350 buses in all. The allocation at Q decreased slightly over the years from 165 in 1952 until the closure of Walworth in 1985 increased the allocation to 142. Camberwell was also the home of the three Titans fitted with electronic blinds which were used on the night bus standby duties.

On 1 May 2010, routes 42 and 185 was transferred to this garage.

;Bus types in use
* ] 10.1m (E) for routes 12 to be introduced on November 2011.
* ] 9.4m (SE) for route P5 and 360.
* ] 10m/ ] (PVL/VP) for route 45 and 185.
* ] 10.7m/] (ELS) for route 42.
* ] 10.2m/ ] 1 (LDP) for route 360.
* Volvo B7TL 10m/ ] (WVL) for routes 68, 468, X68 and N68.
* Volvo B7TL 10.6m/ ] (VWL) for route 185.
* ] (MAL) for route 12.
* ] 10.1m (WHY) for route 360.

===New Cross (NX)===
]
As of November 2006, the New Cross garage holds 149 buses, and runs London bus routes ], ], ], ], , school route ], 24-hour route ], ] and ], and night routes ] and ].

Said to be the largest of London's bus garages with space for over 300 buses the garage was originally a tram depot and opened in 1906. In 1952 with the trams withdrawn, the depot was converted into a bus garage. The garage has never been even close to its capacity due to the close proximity of other garages, but has at various times been used to store surplus vehicles. The garage allocation has fluctuated over the years, from 191 in 1966 to 132 in 2001. The garage also houses some of the private hire fleet which is painted in the style of the former London General company. New cross was also the garage for two special services, first in 1972 when it operated en ex-Tilling ST on route 100 and the ]/] LPG powered buses for the ] services M1 & M2. In 2003 the garage also began operating Mercedes-Benz articulated buses on route 436. On 10 October route 321 had converted into a 24-hour service.

On 1 May 2010, route 108 was moved to this garage.

;Bus types in use
* ] 10.2m/] (LDP) for routes 108 and 225.
* ] (MAL) for route 436.
* ] 10m/] (PVL) for routes 36, 108 (evening only), 321 and 621.
* ] 10.1m (E) for route 36. To be introduced on routes 436 and 453 from 3 November 2011.
* ] 10.4m /] (WVL) for routes 21, 171, N21 and N171.
* ] 10.8m/Wright Merit (DWL) for routes 108.
* Volvo B5L Hybrid / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 To be introduced on route 453 from 3 November 2011.
* ] 10.1m (EH) To be introduced on route 436 from 3 November 2011.

===Peckham (PM)===
]
As of November 2006, the Peckham garage holds 66 buses, and runs London bus routes ] (nights) , ], ], ], 24-hour route ] and night route ].

The new Peckham garage was converted from a local authority maintenance depot and opened in 1994 with a capacity for 75 buses. In 2000 the garage put London's first ] 10m/] low-floor vehicles into service on route 63 alongside NC Palatines and Plaxton Pointers. Peckham Garage won bus garage of the year in 2004, although this turned out to be a poisoned chalice for the garage, losing almost half of its work in the next year's tender awards.

;Bus types in use:
* ] 10m/] (PVL) for routes 36 and 363.
* ]/] (LDP)
* Dennis Dart SLF 9.4m/] (LDP) for route P12.
* ]/Northern Counties Palatine 1/2 (NV, Training buses)
* ] 10.1m (E) for routes 37.
* ] 10.4m /] (WVL) for routes 63 and N63.
* ] 10.8m (SE) to be introduced on route P12 from October 2011.



{{Unreferenced|date=February 2007}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = London General
| logo = London General logo.png
| logo_size = 160px
| image = Leyland_National_Greenway_offside.jpg‎
| image_size =
| image_caption = A ] as used in London with London General
| company_slogan = The Best Seats in Town
| parent = ]
| routes = 63
| founded = 1988
| headquarters =
| locale =
| service_area = ]
| service_type = ]
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet =
| ridership =
| fuel_type =
| operator = ]
| ceo =
| website =
}} }}


'''Go-Ahead London''' is a major bus operator in ]. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands. It is currently (as of November 2024) the largest bus operator in ], operating a total of 157 bus routes mainly in South and Central London as well as some services into North and East London with a fleet size of 2270 vehicles under contract to ].<ref name="2021TFLaudit">{{cite web |date=31 March 2024 |title=Bus Fleet Audit |url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/fleet-annual-audit-report-31-march-2024.pdf |access-date=28 July 2024 |publisher=]}}</ref> It is also the largest operator of electric buses in London, with a total of 540 electric vehicles.
'''London General''' is a modern bus operating company. It is now owned by the ] and operates buses under contract to ]. The company was named in honour of the ], the principal operator of ] between 1855 and 1933.


==History== ==History==
] ] bus at Gravesend Bus Hub on 10 November 2024]]
The modern-day London General was established in late ] as one of 12 operating subsidiaries of ], its original logo being an omnibus in reflection of the name's history. With the ] of LBL in ], the company was originally subject to a management buy-out, before being acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in May ].
The ] is a large transport group based in ]. It first became involved in London bus operations in September 1994, whereupon the ] of London Buses, it purchased ] for £23.8&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1 October 1994 |issue=136 |page=<!--Not recorded--> |title=GAG buys London Central |magazine=] |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap}}</ref> In May 1996, it added another former London Buses subsidiary, ], which had been sold in 1994 to a ] for £46&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|url=https://archive.org/details/bus-coach-buyer-31-may-1996-issue-360/page/n3/mode/1up |title=London General sell to Go-Ahead |date=31 May 1996 |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |issue=360 |page=2|location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited |access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1996pres/ar1996.pdf|title=Annual Report year ended 29 June 1996|date=19 September 1996 |access-date=9 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123165203/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/1996pres/ar1996.pdf|archive-date=23 November 2012|publisher=Go-Ahead Group}}</ref> These two companies subsequently developed in much the same way, both establishing a livery of red with a charcoal skirt and yellow relief band, and splitting orders for new buses.


Further expansion did not occur until September 2006, when ] was purchased.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.go-ahead.com/Main.php?iCmsPageId=48 |title=London Central and London General |website=Go-Ahead Group |access-date=13 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106103810/http://www.go-ahead.com/Main.php?iCmsPageId=48 |archive-date=6 November 2006 }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2024}} On 29 June 2007, Go-Ahead London purchased ]. With these purchases, Go-Ahead London surpassed ] to become the largest operator of buses in London, running around 16% of London bus services.
The company has recently moved its offices to an address in ], adjacent to the Merton bus garage. Prior to this they were in Mitcham.


A corporate image for Go-Ahead London bus routes started to appear in August 2008, when a new Go-Ahead London logo was unveiled.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.go-ahead-london.com/home/index.html |title=Homepage |website=Go-Ahead London |access-date=13 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705024624/http://www.go-ahead-london.com/home/index.html |archive-date=5 July 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2024}}
In August ], ]'s ] bus operations took up the new trading name of ].


On 29 July 2009, ] announced that ] would be sold to London General, part of Go-Ahead London. The sale of ] was for around £5m, which includes all assets. Although it is normal practice in London to tender for additional routes, London General will also begin a new five year contract for all East Thames Buses routes without the tendering process. The sale was completed on 3 October 2009. In 2009, ] invited bids for the sale of their own bus operations which ran under the ] brand. Go-Ahead London were selected as the preferred bidder and assumed full responsibility for 10 routes and two depots in October that year. The East Thames Buses brand was replaced with the Go-Ahead London brand. The East Thames Buses operations were initially absorbed under the ] arm of Go-Ahead London's business. However, after some route movements and allocation changes some of the services now run under the ] arm of Go-Ahead London's business.
They operate a contract with Coulsdon College in south London to provide a school-bus service between West Croydon and the college.


On 30 March 2012, Go-Ahead London purchased ] garage from ] with all routes brought under the London General arm of Go-Ahead London's business.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=20 March 2012|title=Go-Ahead to buy First's Northumberland Park Depot |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/go-ahead-to-buy-firsts-northumberland-park-depot/ |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
==Garages==
The company has nine bus garages in ], ], ], ], ], Waterside Way, Mandela Way and ].


On 1 April 2014, the Go-Ahead Group restructured its ] business, with the management of the ] contracted services passing to the control of the ] arm of Go-Ahead London's business, with the remaining commercial services being brought under the control of ] from 1 July 2014. Services are now operated under an expanded London General licence, however the Metrobus trading name is partially retained.<ref name=BusTalkApr14>{{cite magazine|url=http://issuu.com/goaheadlondon/docs/bus_talk_-_issue_27_-_april_2014 |title=Go-Ahead London welcomes Metrobus garages into fold |magazine=Bus Talk |issue=27 |page=2 |date=April 2014 |publisher=Go-Ahead London |access-date=13 August 2008}}</ref> ]'s licence was formally increased by the ] on 25 April 2014 to accommodate the Metrobus buses.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Metrobus within Go-Ahead London |magazine=The London Bus |issue=598 |date=June 2014 |page=7 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Go-Ahead London |date=August 2014 |magazine=Buses |issue=713 |page=71 |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing}}</ref>
===Merton (AL)===
The Merton garage holds 133 buses, and runs London bus routes ], ], ], ], ], ] (Monday to Saturday), ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the first few outbound journeys on Night Bus route ] and LSP route 668. It also operates some duties on route ] on Sundays.


In June 2023, it was announced that Go-Ahead London will take over the ] services of the ] ] network from ]. These services were taken over on 10 November 2024 temporarily using diesel buses as part of a 15-year contract between the operator and ].<ref name="KentOnline">{{cite news |last1=Esson |first1=Daniel |title=Go-Ahead London to take over Arriva Fastrack bus services between Dartford, Gravesend, Bluewater, Darent Valley Hospital and Ebbsfleet |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/london-firm-to-take-over-key-bus-service-in-the-county-288320/ |access-date=6 November 2024 |work=Kent Online |date=14 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Deakin |first1=Tim |title=Go-Ahead gains 15-year Kent Fastrack BRT contract |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-gains-15-year-kent-fastrack-brt-contract/ |access-date=6 November 2024 |work=routeone |date=14 June 2023}}</ref> Go-Ahead is to launch the service using a fleet of 28 ] ] buses, creating Kent's first all-electric bus network;<ref>{{cite news |title=Go-Ahead, Irizar, VEV confirmed for Kent Fastrack electrification |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-irizar-vev-confirmed-for-kent-fastrack-electrification/ |access-date=6 November 2024 |work=routeone |date=15 March 2024}}</ref> this fleet is garaged at a repurposed warehouse at Newtons Court in ] in the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Proposed Zero Emission Bus Depot Development Newtons Court, Dartford |url=https://docs.planning.org.uk/20241023/85/SL2YDCBQI4G00/pwy7udahk2m35paj.pdf |publisher=Peter Evans Partnership |access-date=11 January 2025 |location=Bristol |date=October 2024}}</ref>
Merton was for many years the largest of the LGOC's garages, and continued to boast high allocations in the early days of ], including 222 STL-class AEC Regents in 1935, and all of the first 181 D-class utility Daimlers in 1950.


==Current subsidiaries==
The garage was modernised in 1960, and again in 1991 when a new roof was fitted and various stores and welfare areas were moved to provide a larger, unobstructed parking area, which had previously been renowned for being long and narrow. Some buses were parked at a yard in nearby ] during the rebuilding project. Over recent years, the allocation total has fluctuated between 83 and 134, never really coming close to the garage's original high capacity. ] was also responsible for the maintenance of vehicles for route 200 in 1988/9 after the withdrawal of the Cityrama sightseeing company, whilst the route was operated from Sutton garage.
The current subsidiaries of Go-Ahead London are, in order of acquisition:

* ] (September 1994)
The garage has recently become Go-Ahead London's head office, following the sale of Raleigh House (Mitcham) and the acquisition of the former pub next door. From March 2012 it will make room for route 493 with 17 new *] (DE).
* ] (May 1996 for the main routes/April 2014 for ]' London routes)
;Bus types in use:
* ] (September 2006)
* ] 10.2m/] (LDP) for routes 201, 219 and 355.
* ] (June 2007)
* ]/] 1/2 for route 668.
* ] (November 2024)
* ] 10m/] (PVL) for routes 22, 44, 77, 155, 200, 270, 280 and 655.
* ] 10.1m (E) for route 118.
* ] 10.2m (SE) for route 200.
* Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m / ] (SOE) for routes 163 and 164.
* ] 9.9m<!--10.1m?--> / ] (DOE) for route 163.
* ] 9.2m/] (DW) for route 201.
* ] 10.2m / ] (LDP) for route 201.
* ] 10m / ] (WVL) for routes 44, 77, 155, 163, 270, 280 and 655.

===Putney (AF)===
]
The Putney garage holds 108 buses, and runs London bus routes ], ], ], ], ], 24-hour routes ] and ], and Night routes ] and ].

With its ancestry going back to the horse bus days of the 1880s, Chelverton Road Garage was converted to a motor-bus garage in 1912. The garage is well hidden in a side road with a modest frontage, yet it has an allocation of 112. It has been modernised twice, firstly in 1935 and then again in 1985. The garage was well known for being allocated the pre-war RTs in 1940 which displaced the STLs. During the war the garage was underutilised and was used to store de-licensed buses. Re-named to Putney in 1963 after the closure of Putney Bridge garage (F) it started to receive RMs and later RMLs for its central London routes. The RMLs remained at the garages until July 2005 when both the 14 and 22 were converted to low floor one-person-operated buses.

;Bus types in use:
* ] 8.8m /] (LDP) for route 424.
* ] 10m/] (WVL) for routes 14, 22, 74, 85, 430, 670, N22 and N74.
* ] 10.4m/] (VE) route 85.

===Stockwell (SW)===
<!-- This section is linked from ] -->
The Stockwell garage holds 161 buses, and runs London bus routes ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] (AM journey), 24-hour routes ], ] and ], and Night route ], ], and ].

Opened in 1952 after nearly 4 years of planning and building with many materials short of supply and problems re-housing residents of the houses that stood on the site. Stockwell garage is a listed building, and when built was a masterpiece of architectural design incorporating a new roof structure that did not need supports which enabled for a {{convert|73350|sqft|m2|adj=on}} unobstructed parking space. The offices and workshops are on the edges of the garage but do not take up any of the parking space. In the first few days of operation the garage ran just 11 buses on route 178 which had moved from Rye Lane (Peckham), but then gained more work from the next stage of the tram replacement program for which it had been designed for, but it was still well short of capacity. More work arrived in late 1953 and early 1954 when routes 77 and 77A (now 87) moved from Victoria garage due to recruitment problems, and the closure of Nunhead which increased the PVR to 110 buses. In the early 1970s the ] moved to Stockwell. In 1984 Stockwell was chosen to conduct comparative testing on route 170, consisting of ]es, ], ]s, ]s, and ]s. The allocation steadied at around 120 for many years, but has increased in the last few years, partially due to taking back full control of route 11 from RA.

From May 2011, London General has successfully gained the contract of route 337 and will be operating it from this garage.

;Bus types in use:
* Dennis Dart SLF 10.8m/] 2 (DP) for route 170.
* ] 10.8m (SE) for route 170.
* Dennis Dart SLF 8.8m/Alexander Dennis Pointer 2 (LDP) for routes 315.
* Volvo B7TL 10m/East Lancs Myllennium Vyking (EVL) for routes 87 and 88.
* ] 10m/] (PVL) for routes 87 and 88.
* Volvo B7TL 10m/] (WVL) for routes 11, 87, 333, 639, 670, N11, N44 and N87.
* ] 10.1m (E) for routes 24, 88, 196 and 345. Route 337 to be introduced on May 2011.
* ] 10.1m (EH) for route 24.
* ] 10.4m (WDL) for route 88.
* ] (WHD) for route 24.
<!--Please compare the appearance (frontal design & rear axle) of WHD1 (see an image at http://www.flickr.com/photos/21611052@N02/3830268598/ for example) and other Gemini 2, and they are not the same.-->

===Sutton (A)===
]
The Sutton garage holds 79 buses, and runs London bus routes ], ], ], ] on Sundays, ], 24-hour routes ] and ], and Night route ]. They also run LSP routes Tesco New Malden and Sutton services, 866.


It did run a another night bus the N213 between Kingston and Sutton on the 213 then on most of the 154 route to Croydon, but was cancelled by tfl clamming it was not used. So they made the 213 a 24 hour service which was not good enough to help the people living in between Sutton and Croydon in Carshalton and Wallington. There has been a few protests by local people to bring the bus back saying it was used a lot for people communing back from clubbing and people getting to work early in the morning. Local people still want the bus back as this is causing people to walk home or pay for an over priced cab at night. tfl has not realised the problems its caused with people living between Sutton and Croydon. It was a good idea for a night bus the route but was very sadly axed in July 2009. Local people would like to see something done but only half of the route is running which is not good enough for people between Sutton and Croydon.


Opened by the ] in January 1924 at cost of £30,000, Sutton bus garage had a capacity for 100 buses. During its early years, less than half of the garage was put to use, holding only 40 buses by 1926. This would change somewhat by the extension of the ] to ] and major house-building projects in the area. Between 1945 and 1953, it had an allocation of exactly 100 Utility Daimlers (classed as D's) numbered from D182 - D281. By 1952, the garage had a PVR of 128, achieved mainly by parking buses in surrounding streets. However this would soon fall again, to 100 in 1966, 82 in 1976 and 62 in 1987. The garage was passed over to the re-born 'London General' bus company in the run-up to privatization in 1985. Sutton Garage also partly took control of route 200 at a yard in Colliers Wood (AA) in 1989, after Cityrama withdrew from their contract. Sutton was responsible for providing drivers for the service, whilst Merton Garage were contracted to do the maintenance. By 1994, the garage PVR had grown to 85 and again to 92 in 2001, including 10 buses subcontracted to ].

Sutton also helped when Carshalton closed in 1964.

;Bus types in use:
* ] 10.2m/] 2 (LDP) for route 164, 413 and 866.
* ] 10m ] (PVL) for route 213, also for Surrey routes and contract hire.
* ] 10.1m (E) for route 213.
* ] 9.9m /] (DOE) for routes 93, 151, 154 and N155.
* ] 10.2m / ] (SOE) for route 80 and 164.
* ]/] II (NV) for route 866 and special hire and events.
* ] 10.8m (SE) to be introduced on route 413 from September 2011.

===Waterloo (RA)===
]
The Waterloo garage holds 36 Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses for use on ] buses ] and ]. The garage was opened as a bus garage in the early 1980s and was used as a Red Arrow garage and had the 11's as RML in 1990s. The garage is only operated Monday to Friday due to its proximity to residential properties.

;Bus types in use:
* ] 12m (MEC) for route 507 and 521.

===Waterside Way (PL)===
The Waterside Way garage runs London bus routes ], ] and ]. And also a storage of the training buses.

;Bus types in use:
* ] 10.2m / ] (LDP) for route 39 and 485.
* ] 8.8m / ] (LDP) for route G1.

===Mandela Way (MW)===
The Mandela Way garage runs London bus routes ], ], ], ] and ].
;Bus types in use:
* ] (MAL) for route 453.
* Mercedes-Benz O530 Citaro 12m (MEC) for routes 507 and 521.
* ] 10.6m/] (VWL) for route 1 and N1.

===Belvedere (BV)===
The Belvedere garage holds 14 buses, and runs London bus routes ], ], ] and Night route ].

Belvedere was purchased by ] in 1998 to house its operations that moved from ]. Harris Bus went into ] in 2000, and its routes and garage were taken over by London Buses under the guise of East Thames Buses. Since then, East Thames Buses has become a unit taking over routes from defunct operators such as ]'s ] & ]. Following the move to Mandela Way the engineering is now done there, however limited engineering facilities exist at Belvedere.

East Thames buses was sold to Go-Ahead London (London General) in October 2009. As a result of the purchase by Go-ahead some route and allocation movements have taken or are due to take place. On 7 November 2009 route 132 transferred to Nearby Bexleyheath Garage (BX) and its contract placed with London Central. On 1st May 2010 route 108 transfrred to New Cross garage, 185 to Camberwell garage and 661 and part of 669 to Bexleyheath garage.

Even Though Belvedere is a London General Garage it now operates as a satellite of London Central's Bexleyheath Garage (BX). All BV's Engineering and fleet management is done at or organised by BX, in addition BV's staff and Operational Management is also undertaken by BX.

On 22 January 2011, route 244 was transferred to this garage, with a fleet of 15 new Enviro 200 Dart's (SE class), the 244 was previously run from BX.

;Bus Types in use:
* ] 10.6m/] (VWL) for routes 180 and N1.
* Volvo B7TL 10m / Plaxton President (VP) for route 669.
* ] (SE) 10.2m for route 244.


{{Refimprove|date=September 2008}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Docklands Buses
| logo = Docklands Buses.png
| logo_size = 154
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| company_slogan =
| parent = ]
| routes = 6
| founded = Various
| headquarters =
| locale =
| service_area = ]
| service_type = ]
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet =
| ridership =
| fuel_type =
| operator = ]
| ceo =
| website =
}}

'''Docklands Buses''' is one of many bus companies operating contracted services on behalf of ].

==History==
The company was formed by ] in 1993 as 'Docklands Transit'. It initially operated local commercial routes using minibuses, but these proved not to be viable so it switched to operating tendered services.<ref>{{cite book|last=McLachlan|first=Tom|title=London Buses 1985-1995: Managing The Change|year=1995|publisher = Venture Publications|page=73|isbn=1898432740}}</ref> Stagecoach purchased the bus side of the company in 1997, and Docklands Transit continuted operating private hire vehicles. In 2002, they won the contract to operate ex-Arriva route ], soon winning other contracts after.

In September 2006 the company was purchased by ], <ref><cite> accessed: 17 July 2008<cite/></ref> a subsidiary of the ]. As part of the Go-Ahead Group, their head office is based in Merton and they operate one bus garage in Silvertown (SI) which holds 38 buses. In August 2008 a new trading name for Go-Ahead's London operations was created, called ].

==Routes==
{| class="wikitable" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4
|'''Route number'''
|'''Route'''
|'''Bus type used'''
|'''Notes'''
|-
|]
|] to ]
|] 10m/]
|Schooldays only , Main service operated by ]
|-
|]
|] to ]
|] 10.2m/]
|
|-
|]
|Newham Hospital to Stoke Newington
|
|From 17 September 2011
|-
|]
|] to ]
|] 10.2m
|
|-
|]
|Beckton to East Ham
|
|From 17 September 2011
|-
|]
|] ''Nightingale Road'' to ]
|] 10.6m<br>] 10m / ]
|
|-
|]
|] to ]
|] 10.4m / ]<br>] 10.6m
|
|-
|]
|] to ]
|Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart 10.2m/MCV Evolution
|
|-
|]
|Warren School to ] ''Bus station''
|] 10m/]
|Schooldays only
|-
|]
|Hackney to Crossharbour
|
|From 17 September 2011
|-
|]
|Poplar to Mile End
|
|From 17 September 2011
|-
|]
|Stratford to Crossharbour
|
|From 17 September 2011
|-
|]
|] to ]
|] 9.4m/MCV Evolution
|Transferred to Go-Ahead's Blue Triangle (BE) garage from 26 November 2011
|-
|]
|] to ]
|] 10.6m
|
|}

;Bus types in use:
* ] 10.2m / ] (ED) for routes 167 and 549.
* ] 9.4m / ] (ED) for route W19.
* ] 10.2m (SE) for route 300.
* ] 10.4m / ] for route 474.
* ] 10m/] (PVL) for route 150, 425 and 673.
* ] 10.6m (SO) for route 474 and N551.
* ] 10.6m (SOC) for route 425.
* ] 10.1m (E) To be introduced on route D7 from September 2011.
* ] 10.8m (SE) To be introduced on routes 276, 376, D6 and D8 from September 2011.



{{cleanup|date=May 2007}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = Blue Triangle
| logo = Blue Triangle logo.PNG
| logo_size =
| image = Blue Triangle TL903 V903 FEC.jpg
| image_size = 256px
| image_caption = A ] of Blue Triangle on route 66 at ] prior to the takeover by ].
| company_slogan =
| parent =
| founded =
| headquarters =
| locale =
| service_area = ]
| service_type = ]
| hubs =
| stations =
| routes = 10<br>9 (by 26th March 2011)<br>2 (non-London Buses)
| fleet = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| ridership =
| fuel_type =
| operator = ]
| ceo =
| website =
}}
]/], for ].]]
'''Blue Triangle''' is one of many operators of ], it is based in ] and is part of ].<ref></ref> It is the operator of the ] service.

==History==
Blue Triangle have existed since at least the late 80s/early 90s operating Essex route 500 on evenings on Sundays in the early days of deregulation.

Blue Triangle have long been known for their rail replacement services and also assisting London Buses when other companies gave up routes early, or in the case of ] in 2002, folded completely. The yard is at Denver Industrial Estate, Ferry Lane, Rainham.

On June 29, 2007, the company was acquired by the ], for a total sum of £12 million. Go-Ahead has not bought the special vehicles, all heritage vehicles have remained the property of the former managing director, Roger Wright.

In August 2008 a new trading name for Go-Ahead's London operations was created: ].

==Garages==
They have 1 garage in Rainham which holds approximately 77 buses.

It has depot code BE.

==Fleet information==
===Service vehicles===
* ]/] 10.2m/10.8m (DP) for route 648.
* ] 10.8m (SE) for routes 347, 362 and 364.
* ]/] 10m (PVL) for routes 649, 650, 651, 674, and Essex routes 575 and 804.
* ]/] 10.4m (WVL) for routes EL1 and EL2.

===Special vehicles===
The company also owned a number of special vehicles including an ex-Green Line RMC, ] and ] for use on Private Hire duties. One of the these RTs ran a special marking the end of Blue Triangle's assistance on route 185. All these vehicles remain in the hands of the former owner Roger Wright's ] along with the private hire operation.

==Routes==
{| class="wikitable" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4
|'''Route Number'''
|'''Route'''
|'''General Details'''
|'''Notes'''
|-
|]
|] to ]
|], Monday to Saturday
|-
|]
|] to ]
|], Daily
|-
|]
|] to ]
|], Daily
|-
|575
|] to ]
|Mondays to Fridays
|Essex commercial service
|-
|]
|] to ]
|], Schooldays only
|-
|]
|] ''North Street Bus Garage'' to Campion School
|], Schooldays only
|-
|]
|] ''North Street Bus Garage'' to ]
|], Schooldays only
|-
|]
|] to North Romford ''Chase Cross''
|], Schooldays only
|-
|]
|] to ] ''Dagnam Park Square''
|], Schooldays only
|-
||804
|] to ]
|Schooldays only
|Essex CC contract
|-
|]
|] to ]
|], 24 hours Services
|-
|]
|] to ]
|], Daily
|-
|]
|] to ]
|], Daily.
|Transferred from Go-Ahead's Docklands Buses (SI) garage from 26 November 2011.
{{end}}

==Previous routes operated==
]s on route 372 at ].]]

* Blue Triangle operated Essex route 500 (Romford to Harlow via Epping) in the late 80s/early 90s in the early days of deregulation. They operated the route on evenings and Sundays under contract to Essex County Council.

* Route 565 (Brentwood to Bulphan) was once operated by Blue Triangle. They also operated the route when it went from Brentwood on to Romford.

* Essex CC route 11 (Purfleet to Basildon) was lost to ] in January 2009

* Essex CC routes 8B/8C, 101 and 256 were lost to ] in August 2010

* Blue Triangle was the last operator to operate route 502 (Loughton to Romford) a few years ago. It was a Saturday service with only 1 return journey.

* ] (Lakeside - Hornchurch) was won on a temporary contract as part replacement for route 324 which ran between Romford market & Bluewater Shopping Complex, Blue Triangle was awarded the temporary contract using four Dennis Darts with Plaxton Pointer bodywork with single door, these were obtained from dealer stock. In March 2004, Blue triangle retained the contract for another five years but the buses had to be converted to dual doors like most TfL bus routes, but this never happen. Blue Triangle lost this route to East London Bus Group new company 'Thameside' which are based next door at Rainham.

* ] (Cranham - Romford Market) route was won in 2001 from First Capital and had to start using Titans & Metrobuses due to late delivery of new buses for the route. in September 2008, the route was lost on tendering to East London Bus Group company 'Thameside'.

* ] (Passingford Bridge - Romford Station) was won on a temporary contract as a part replacement to Essex County Council route 500, which was withdrawn between Ongar & Romford, TfL stepped in with this replacement service using just one bus. The route was put out for tender and was lost to ] at their Grays base from Saturday 4 July 2009.

* ] (Leytonstone - Romford Station) was won in September 2003 from ], the contract started using hired buses due to the late deliver of new buses from Transbus. In September 2010, the route was up for tender and lost to ] at Grays.

* ] (Chadwell Heath - Harts Lane Estate) was transferred to Blue Triangle from Dockland Buses on 3 November 2007, using existing ]s. On 26 March 2011 This route was up for tender and lost to ].

==See also==
*] - A bus company also owned by Go-Ahead, running services south of London as well as in Surrey and Sussex.
*]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


==External links== == External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*
* {{Official website}}



{{London bus operators}} {{London bus operators}}
{{Go-Ahead Bus Companies}} {{Go-Ahead Bus Companies}}
]
{{Bus companies in Greater London}}

] ]
]

]

Latest revision as of 07:06, 11 January 2025

London bus operator

Go-Ahead London
A Go-Ahead London red double-decker bus partially displaying a display for route 40 in Southwark, LondonGo-Ahead London Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV on route 40 in Southwark, November 2023
Company typeTfL bus operator
FoundedSeptember 1994; 30 years ago (1994-09)
Headquarters18 Merton High Street, London, England
Area servedGreater London
Key peopleTom Joyner (Managing Director)
Number of employees8,000
ParentGo-Ahead Group
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.goaheadlondon.com Edit this at Wikidata

Go-Ahead London is a major bus operator in Greater London. The name first appeared in August 2008, before which the company had traded under separate names and brands. It is currently (as of November 2024) the largest bus operator in Greater London, operating a total of 157 bus routes mainly in South and Central London as well as some services into North and East London with a fleet size of 2270 vehicles under contract to Transport for London. It is also the largest operator of electric buses in London, with a total of 540 electric vehicles.

History

Go-Ahead London Fastrack Enviro200 bus at Gravesend Bus Hub on 10 November 2024

The Go-Ahead Group is a large transport group based in Newcastle. It first became involved in London bus operations in September 1994, whereupon the privatisation of London Buses, it purchased London Central for £23.8 million. In May 1996, it added another former London Buses subsidiary, London General, which had been sold in 1994 to a management buyout for £46 million. These two companies subsequently developed in much the same way, both establishing a livery of red with a charcoal skirt and yellow relief band, and splitting orders for new buses.

Further expansion did not occur until September 2006, when Docklands Buses was purchased. On 29 June 2007, Go-Ahead London purchased Blue Triangle. With these purchases, Go-Ahead London surpassed Arriva London to become the largest operator of buses in London, running around 16% of London bus services.

A corporate image for Go-Ahead London bus routes started to appear in August 2008, when a new Go-Ahead London logo was unveiled.

In 2009, Transport for London invited bids for the sale of their own bus operations which ran under the East Thames Buses brand. Go-Ahead London were selected as the preferred bidder and assumed full responsibility for 10 routes and two depots in October that year. The East Thames Buses brand was replaced with the Go-Ahead London brand. The East Thames Buses operations were initially absorbed under the London General arm of Go-Ahead London's business. However, after some route movements and allocation changes some of the services now run under the London Central arm of Go-Ahead London's business.

On 30 March 2012, Go-Ahead London purchased Northumberland Park garage from First London with all routes brought under the London General arm of Go-Ahead London's business.

On 1 April 2014, the Go-Ahead Group restructured its Metrobus business, with the management of the Transport for London contracted services passing to the control of the London General arm of Go-Ahead London's business, with the remaining commercial services being brought under the control of Brighton & Hove from 1 July 2014. Services are now operated under an expanded London General licence, however the Metrobus trading name is partially retained. London General's licence was formally increased by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency on 25 April 2014 to accommodate the Metrobus buses.

In June 2023, it was announced that Go-Ahead London will take over the Kent Thameside services of the Fastrack bus rapid transit network from Arriva Southern Counties. These services were taken over on 10 November 2024 temporarily using diesel buses as part of a 15-year contract between the operator and Kent County Council. Go-Ahead is to launch the service using a fleet of 28 battery electric Irizar ie tram buses, creating Kent's first all-electric bus network; this fleet is garaged at a repurposed warehouse at Newtons Court in Stone in the Borough of Dartford.

Current subsidiaries

The current subsidiaries of Go-Ahead London are, in order of acquisition:

References

  1. "Train man to head Go-Ahead London". Buses. No. 832. Stamford: Key Publishing. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  2. "Bus Fleet Audit" (PDF). Transport for London. 31 March 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. "GAG buys London Central". Coach & Bus Week. No. 136. Peterborough: Emap. 1 October 1994.
  4. "London General sell to Go-Ahead". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 360. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 31 May 1996. p. 2. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  5. "Annual Report year ended 29 June 1996" (PDF). Go-Ahead Group. 19 September 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  6. "London Central and London General". Go-Ahead Group. Archived from the original on 6 November 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  7. "Homepage". Go-Ahead London. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  8. "Go-Ahead to buy First's Northumberland Park Depot". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  9. "Go-Ahead London welcomes Metrobus garages into fold". Bus Talk. No. 27. Go-Ahead London. April 2014. p. 2. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  10. "Metrobus within Go-Ahead London". The London Bus. No. 598. London Omnibus Traction Society. June 2014. p. 7.
  11. "Go-Ahead London". Buses. No. 713. Stamford: Key Publishing. August 2014. p. 71.
  12. Esson, Daniel (14 June 2023). "Go-Ahead London to take over Arriva Fastrack bus services between Dartford, Gravesend, Bluewater, Darent Valley Hospital and Ebbsfleet". Kent Online. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  13. Deakin, Tim (14 June 2023). "Go-Ahead gains 15-year Kent Fastrack BRT contract". routeone. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  14. "Go-Ahead, Irizar, VEV confirmed for Kent Fastrack electrification". routeone. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  15. "Proposed Zero Emission Bus Depot Development Newtons Court, Dartford" (PDF). Bristol: Peter Evans Partnership. October 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2025.

External links

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