Go-Ahead acquires Carousel Buses Limited

Go-Ahead Group is pleased to announce the forthcoming acquisition of Carousel Buses Limited, based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The acquisition will take place on Saturday 3 March 2012.

Carousel currently operates around 50 buses in the Wycombe area and runs services to Heathrow Airport, Uxbridge, Chesham and Watford. The company mainly operates a mix of commercial bus services and schools bus contracts.

David Brown, Group Chief Executive said: “Carousel fits perfectly with our strategy of acquiring innovative, well-managed businesses which have a strong commercial core and can provide a solid basis for increasing passenger numbers. We are pleased to be taking on a bus company which prides itself on running a safe, reliable, affordable and customer focused service.

“In 2011 we acquired Thames Travel which was a similar size business and has been highly successful since joining the group, with significant tender wins. It has also successfully converted several services which were subsidised by local authorities into commercial services. Thames Travel has retained its own identity and prospers under our devolved business model. I am confident that we can repeat this success with the purchase of Carousel.”

The current owners of Carousel, Steve Burns and John Robinson, will step back from day-to-day operation on acquisition, and will act as advisers to the new owners. Carousel will be run by the Oxford Bus Company director team under the leadership of Managing Director Philip Kirk.The company will retain its existing brand identity.