Go-Ahead Group has expanded its international reach into Australia. It comes with the award of a contract by Transport New South Wales for bus operation in Sydney to a joint venture called U-Go-Mobility, established by the group and engineering and services provider UGL.
The JV is split equally between the two parties. It will run 225 buses in the south and south-west of the Australian city from July 2023. Those vehicles will carry over 500,000 passengers daily and be supported by more than 400 staff. The contract is worth approximately A$500m and it will run for around seven years.
Go-Ahead Group says award of the contract in Australia to the JV draws upon its own experience in the regulated bus market in both the UK and further afield, including Ireland, Singapore and Sweden. It was also recently awarded the first two large franchises as part of the three-stage reregulation of bus services in Greater Manchester.
Speaking about the contract win, Go-Ahead Group Chief Executive Christian Schreyer says: “We specialise in running busy bus networks in global cities, so we are delighted to be entering Sydney alongside our partner UGL. We look forward to delivering punctual, good value buses to get Sydneysiders on their way each day, with outstanding customer service.
“Australia will be Go-Ahead’s seventh country of bus and rail operation. This underlines our ambition for international expansion as climate change, urbanisation and convenience encourage people around the world to switch from cars to public transport.”
UGL is already involved in the operation of rail services in Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. The contract awarded to the JV represents a consolidation of two previously separate regions and it will see services provided in areas including Bankstown, Bundeena, Cronulla, Hurstville and Miranda.
