Go-Ahead expands in South West through acquisition of Dartline15 November 2022

The Go-Ahead Group has agreed to buy Dartline, a bus and coach operator based in Exeter, which will build on the group’s position as a leading local transport operator in Devon and Cornwall.

Dartline operates a fleet of 84 buses, coaches and special education needs taxis, and employs 118 people providing essential services for commuters, schools, day trippers and local communities across East Devon. Its bus routes are a mixture of commercial routes and services operated under contract for Devon County Council.

Dartline’s coach division provides tours and private hire services, including the team coach for Exeter Chiefs rugby union team.

Go-Ahead has grown rapidly in the West Country. From its origins as Plymouth Citybus, the group expanded into East Cornwall in 2014, and again in 2020 through an eight-year contract to deliver rural bus routes from Lands End to the Tamar for the county council, creating Go Cornwall Bus. The combined operation was given a new corporate identity as Go South West. Following the acquisition of Dartline, Go South West will comprise four customer facing brands operating 380 buses and coaches, employing a workforce of 900 people.

Richard Stevens, managing director of Go South West, said: “This acquisition will take us into wider Devon, and will mean that Go South West bus services stretch from the western tip of Cornwall to the Devon, Dorset and Somerset border.

“We will maintain Dartline’s strong focus on delivering for local communities, and we will invest in growing and adding services in mid and east Devon.”

Author
Transport Engineer

Related Companies
Go-Ahead Group

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