Southdown Buses acquired by Go-Ahead Group

[Deleted]

The Hants & Surrey Bus Blog has posted the following on their Facebook page:

“According to a post on the Southdown Buses Enthusiasts Group by the operator’s Managing Director - and Facebook group admin - Stephen Wallis, Southdown Buses are to become part of the Go-Ahead Group effective tomorrow. Their post reads: “I'm delighted to announce that with effect from 1st February, Southdown Buses will become a subsidiary of Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company and thus part of Go-Ahead Group”.

A screenshot of a message we’ve seen signed by Brighton & Hove and Metrobus MD Ed Wills, it will see the transfer of 43 colleagues and current Copthorne operating centre, and the local identity will be retained “initially” (so presumably an integration with Metrobus may be a longer term plan).”

[lonmark]

Oh wow. I hope Southdown not face more serious problem with financial.

I am glad to see Southdown buses can be saved by Go-Ahead Group. 🙂👍🏻

[YY13VKP]

Jan 31, 2023 20:43:24 GMT @damo said:

The Hants & Surrey Bus Blog has posted the following on their Facebook page:

“According to a post on the Southdown Buses Enthusiasts Group by the operator’s Managing Director - and Facebook group admin - Stephen Wallis, Southdown Buses are to become part of the Go-Ahead Group effective tomorrow. Their post reads: “I'm delighted to announce that with effect from 1st February, Southdown Buses will become a subsidiary of Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company and thus part of Go-Ahead Group”.

A screenshot of a message we’ve seen signed by Brighton & Hove and Metrobus MD Ed Wills, it will see the transfer of 43 colleagues and current Copthorne operating centre, and the local identity will be retained “initially” (so presumably an integration with Metrobus may be a longer term plan).”

I could see this coming from a while back, considering Southdown were an independent company and were expanding pretty quickly to the point where a big group would be interested in its acquisition, particularly if it started to struggle. It's great to see The Go-Ahead Group purchase another company that operates near me, and it wouldn't surprise me if they are eventually merged with Metrobus. Though when you consider that Southdown were Metrobus's biggest competitor in East Surrey, would the Competitions and Markets Authority take an interest in this takeover? It would leave Compass Bus as the only competitor in the East Surrey area certainly

[ctrh136]

Southdown's fleet has now been renumbered in the Metrobus 6xxx series.

[SILENCED]

Southdown's operating base has been added to the B&H/Metrobus licence.