London Central and London General are relatively new bus companies, being formed in 1989 in preparation for the privatisation of London Buses Limited. However, both companies’ origins can be traced back to one of the original pioneers of bus operations in the capital, the London General Omnibus Company Limited (LGOC).

LGOC, or “General” as it was known, operated services throughout the capital and was absorbed into the new London Transport Executive in 1933. London Transport became synonymous with the red London bus until the bus operation was segregated in 1985, becoming London Buses Ltd and London Underground Ltd.

Upon privatisation in autumn 1994, London Central was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group, who are based in Newcastle, which itself was formed on the privatisation of Northern General Transport Ltd, previously part of the National Bus Company. London General was initially purchased by an employee / management team, being subsequently acquired by the Go-Ahead Group in the summer of 1996. These purchases were part of a policy of expansion by the Go-Ahead Group which continues today.

1993 Purchased the Brighton & Hove Bus Company.

1994 Purchased the City of Oxford Bus Company and London Central.

1996 Purchased London General.

1997 Successful in the rail privatisation process by acquiring the franchises to operate Thames Trains and Thameslink through joint ventures.

1998 Purchased Gatwick Handling which was subsequently renamed Aviance following the acquisition of further airport ground handling operations in the UK.

1999 Purchased Metrobus Ltd.
2001 Purchased the South Central train operating company from Connex in advance of being awarded a long term franchise.

2002 Purchased Meteor Parking Ltd, operators of airport parking services

2003 Awarded seven year franchise for South Central.

2003 Purchased Wilts & Dorset Bus Co Ltd

The Group’s turnover is over £1 billion per annum. The London bus operation (London Central and London General) contributes over £160 million to that turnover.