A 400-bus contract in Singapore is adding to Go-Ahead Group’s expertise in running franchised services as it prepares to operate in Dublin. MARK LYONS explains the history behind the city state’s move to a bus contracting model and how the UK group has set up its operation from scratch
As it prepares to start operating the first franchised bus routes in Dublin from around this time next year (Buses last month), Go-Ahead Group can now draw on two models of how to make this work.
One is in London, where it acquired the London Central company when it was privatised 23 years ago and has expanded by acquisitions and contract gains.
The second is in Singapore where it began operating 13 services in September last year, an experience that has also provided the group with a taste of setting up operations from scratch, learning lessons that will help shape how it develops its 125-vehicle Dublin franchise and support bids for other franchised operations wherever these opportunities arise.
The three city regions present great contrasts. London is home to a population of 10million. The Republic of Singapore — one main island and 62 islets — occupies a land area just under half that of Greater London and has a popu…
