Go-Ahead to supply school buses in America

Nov 5 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

PUBLIC transport giant Go-Ahead is grabbing a foothold in the lucrative US school bus market.

The Newcastle-based group has formed a joint venture company with US company Cook-Illinois Corp to win contracts to supply yellow school buses in America.

Chicago-based Cook-Illinois runs school buses in its area and has linked up with the Newcastle group to search for business in other parts of the US.

Go-Ahead chief executive Keith Ludeman, said: “It represents an excellent, low-risk and financially disciplined way for us to gradually build an operation in this strategically attractive market.

“The North American yellow school bus market shares many of the same characteristics as our UK bus operations and we are delighted to be working with Cook-Illinois.”

Cook-Illinois, which has been running yellow buses for more than half a century, said the link-up would focus on winning new business and operating greener school transport.

Its chief operating officer, John Benish, said: “This joint venture will help to provide efficient, environmentally friendly transportation solutions to our customers while expanding into new markets.”

Go-Ahead employs 27,000 people, is the biggest bus operator in London and runs services in the North East, Oxford, and Southern England.

It also has three UK rail franchises and an airport ground-handling business. The company said it would not rule out more overseas deals.