‘Satisfactory’ start to new year for bus and train operator Go-Ahead
David Brown, chief executive of Go-Ahead. - Credit: Archant
Bus and train operator Go-Ahead Group today reported a “satisfactory” start to its new year, with revenue growth across its operations.
Go-Ahead said that trends within its regional bus business, which includes the Hedingham, Chambers, Anglian Bus and Konectbus fleets in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, were in line with the second half of last year.
Regional bus revenue in the three months to September 26 was about 1% higher compared with the same period a year ago, despite a dip of around 1.5% in passenger journeys.
Revenue from the group’s London bus operations was about 2.5% higher, with passenger journeys around 2% ahead, despite the impact of congestion resulting from roadworks.
Within the group’s rail operation, a 65%-owned joint venture with French group Keolis, revenue from the Southeastern and London Midland franchises grew by 6% and 11% respectively, with passenger journey growth of 3.5% and 5%, with the London Midland figures partly reflecting the impact of engineering work during last year’s first quarter
The new GTR (Thameslink) franchise saw first quarter revenue and passenger growth of 4.5% and 2.5% respectively, based on last year’s figures from the former First Capital Connect and Southern operations.
Chief executive David Brown said: “Overall trading performance has been satisfactory and our full year expectations for both bus and rail operations remain unchanged.
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“In our rail division we look forward to hearing the outcome of the Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchise competitions, and to submitting our bid for TfL’s London Overground contract.
“We continue to make progress in our bus division. Our locally-run bus companies work in partnership with local authorities and are focused on the needs of the communities they serve.”
