Acquisition of Go East Anglia
Transport Made Simple, an independently owned provider of passenger transport services, has reached an agreement with the Go-Ahead Group to acquire its Go East Anglia business. The transaction is expected to be completed by October 1, 2025. Go East Anglia operators Konectbus and Konectbuses will join Transport Made Simple’s existing operations, which operate under the Central Connect, Flagfinders and Simonds brands.
The acquisition will see Transport Made Simple’s fleet increase in size, to 380 buses, coaches and minibuses, with a headcount of 800 team members. The Go East Anglia local bus network complements existing Transport Made Simple operations, and combining the two networks will open up additional opportunities for passengers to travel by public transport across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.
Matt Carney, CEO, Go-Ahead Bus said, “We’re confident that Transport Made Simple will be great new owners for Go East Anglia. Bringing together Go East Anglia’s network with Transport Made Simple’s existing operations will create a stronger local presence, supporting future growth in services and connectivity for passengers and the community. We’re grateful to all our colleagues at Go East Anglia for their hard work and commitment over the years and wish them every success for the future.”
Go East Anglia already work closely in partnership with both Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council, delivering bus services funded by the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan grant, and these services will continue to be developed under the company’s new ownership. Passengers will also start to benefit from existing Transport Made Simple initiatives, such as their Passenger Promise customer service commitment.
Transport Made Simple’s Group Managing Director, Peter Nathanail, commented, “I’m delighted to welcome the drivers, engineers, cleaners and support staff from Go East Anglia into our team, and look forward to building on the excellent work that is already underway in delivering sustainable, high quality bus services across the region. Our focus is always on building strong relationships with local stakeholders, to ensure that we’re providing bus services which meet community needs.”.
A further announcement will be made once the transaction has completed. There are no immediate changes planned to bus services as a result of this announcement, and customers should continue to refer to their local bus operator’s website for the latest timetable information and travel alerts.