Go-Ahead Group Invests

Some of the south’s long established coach companies are receiving an image change as part of the Go-Ahead Group’s investment into the companies it has acquired since 2003. Wiltshire based Bells, Tourist, Kingston and Levers, together with Damory in Blandford and Marchwood Coaches in Southampton will now have new two tone blue liveries applied to all new vehicles purchased by the group. Existing fleet vehicles will also progressively don the striking new colours.

Over the last few months, Tourist, Damory and Marchwood have introduced 11 vehicles into their fleets following a £2 million investment. Five Scania Irizar PB coaches are now with Marchwood whilst Tourist and Damory each have a twin deck Scania Darwen Olympus. Both companies have also received two 05 reg Iveco/Beulas coaches.

Andrew Wickham, Operations Director for Go-Ahead Group’s central southern companies, collectively operating as Go South Coast, said that the investment in the new vehicles is just part of the Group’s determination to increase market share in the region.

“The timing was not only right to start upgrading existing fleets to meet the new EU and London Emission Zone requirements. We have had time to assess the needs and growth potential of our coach operations and believe that with concentrated sales and marketing to support the new image – the investment is justified.”

London based Best Impressions has designed the new livery and the individual logos for each of the companies, and is also producing new marketing material. Go South Coast has recently recruited a new Sales Manager to support the experienced managers within each coach company.

“We have been careful not to lose the name awareness and good reputation of each company within the market sectors and regions they serve,” said Andrew Wickham. “But each company deserved a striking new image. As large contracts will require interaction between companies it will look much better when the client sees coaches in the same livery parked in line.”

Go South Coast now employs over 100 people within its coach operations and has a total fleet size of 70 single and twin deck coaches.