Go South Coast

Go South Coast
ParentGo-Ahead Group
Founded2005 (2005)
HeadquartersPoole
Service areaDorset
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Wiltshire
Somerset[1]
Service typeBus & coach services
Depots13
Fleet850 [2]
Annual ridership46 million (June 2014)[2]
Chief executiveBen Murray[3]
Websitegosouthcoast.co.uk

Go South Coast[4] is a bus operator on the south coast of England. It is a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group. All services under the company come under its operating certificate, although the buses run under a multitude of brands.[5]

History

In August 2003 the Go-Ahead Group purchased the business of Wilts & Dorset, including its Damory Coaches and Tourist Group subsidiaries,[6] followed in July 2005 by Southern Vectis including its Solent Blue Line subsidiary.[7] In February 2006 Wilts & Dorset purchased bus refurbishment company Hants & Dorset Trim.[8]

Later in 2006, Go-Ahead consolidated the management of its south coast operations under Go South Coast in Poole.

In October 2006, Marchwood Motorways was purchased and integrated into Bluestar.[9][10]

Thamesdown Transport was purchased from Swindon Borough Council in February 2017[11] and rebranded as Swindon's Bus Company.

In May 2025, Managing Director Andrew Wickham died, reportedly after a long illness, at age 58.[12][13] Wickham was a respected figure in the UK bus industry where he had worked for almost 40 years, and was appointed MBE in 2024 for services to the industry.[14] Ben Murray, Go South Coast's Finance Director, took over as interim Managing Director of the company.[12]

Subsidiaries

All public bus services come under local brands, which have distinct liveries. These are:

The company also has three coach brands:[15]

  • 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

The company has a bus refurbishment and repair shop, 'Hants and Dorset Trim', based in Eastleigh.

Fleet

As at May 2023, Go South Coast operated over 850 buses and coaches from thirteen depots.[2]

References

  1. ^ "X76 - Marlborough - Calne - Melksham - Bath". Bustimes.org. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "About Go South Coast". Go South Coast.
  3. ^ "Tributes paid as Go South Coast managing director has died". Salisburyjournal.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  4. ^ Companies House extract: Company no 3949597 – Go South Coast Limited formerly Southern Vectis Transport Limited
  5. ^ "Go South Coast" Buses issue 714 September 2014 page 72
  6. ^ Bus buy for Go-Ahead The Guardian 12 August 2003
  7. ^ Recommended Cash Offer for Southern Vectis plc Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 11 July 2005
  8. ^ Acquisition of Hants & Dorset Tram Limited Archived 2 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 6 February 2006
  9. ^ Acquisition of Marchwood Buses Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Go-Ahead Group 24 October 2006
  10. ^ Go-Ahead purchases Marchwood Motorways Archived 6 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine busandcoach.com 26 October 2006
  11. ^ "Swindon council sells loss-making Thamesdown Transport bus firm". BBC News: Wiltshire. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Obituary: Andrew Wickham, Go South Coast". Route One. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  13. ^ Barrett, Bruce (25 May 2025). "Go South Coast managing director Andrew Wickham MBE dies". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Andrew WICKHAM | Order of the British Empire". London Gazette. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Excelsior Coaches". Excelsior-coaches.com. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
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