Partner Article

Go-Ahead joins with Chicago bus operator

North East transport operator Go-Ahead Group is moving into the US market by teaming up with one of the biggest school bus fleet operators in North America.

The Newcastle-based group has formed a joint venture with Cook Illinois Corp to help secure contracts for yellow school buses in the US, and to help create greener forms of school transport.

Cook Illinois is one of the biggest operators of its type in the US, having been established for more than 50 years.

The joint venture will focus on the market in and around its home city of Chicago.

Go-Ahead and Cook Illinois will both hold a 50% share in the joint venture, which is helping the Newcastle company expand beyond the UK for the first time.

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

“The US 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, one of the largest school bus fleet operators in the United States.

“The joint venture will draw upon the expertise of both of our organisations to explore potential opportunities.”

John Benish, chief operating officer for Cook Illinois, said: “With the shortage of resources facing many school districts in this country, it is a perfect time to share our costsaving solutions. This joint venture will help to provide efficient, environmentally-friendly transportation solutions to our customers, while expanding into new markets.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .