Editing Go-Ahead Group (section)

==== Expansion into the Midlands and the South ====
In August 2003, the [[Wilts & Dorset]] bus business was purchased.<ref name="AnnualReport2003">[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2003pres/ar2003.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 28 June 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123170250/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/archive_pres/2003pres/ar2003.pdf|date=23 November 2012}} Go-Ahead Group</ref> In June 2005 [[Bluestar (bus company)|Solent Blue Line]] and [[Southern Vectis]] were purchased.<ref name="Annualreport2005" /> In September 2005, the [[Lewes]] and [[Seaford, East Sussex|Seaford]] operations of [[Stagecoach South]] were acquired and integrated into the [[Brighton & Hove (bus company)|Brighton & Hove]] business.<ref name="AnnualReport2006">[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2006pres/ar2006/ar2006.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 1 July 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123173356/http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2006pres/ar2006/ar2006.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group</ref>

During December 2005, Go-Ahead purchased The Birmingham Coach Company, which operated express coaches under contract for [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] and local bus services in the West Midlands under the [[Diamond West Midlands|Diamond Bus]] name.<ref name="times" /><ref name="AnnualReport2006" /> Go-Ahead had been known for some time to be keen to begin operating in the area. In February 2006, another operator in the West Midlands, [[Probus Management]], trading as [[People's Express]], was purchased.<ref name="times" /><ref name="AnnualReport2006" />

In August 2006, the Birmingham Coach Company (trading as Diamond Bus) and Probus operations were regrouped under the [[Go West Midlands]] Limited legal entity, with the bus operations branded as Diamond in the West Midlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reddibus.com/Diamond%20Bus%20-%20Introduction.htm |title=Diamond Bus Introduction |publisher=Reddibus |access-date=21 April 2017 |archive-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223065130/http://reddibus.com/Diamond%20Bus%20-%20Introduction.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In February 2006, the Hants & Dorset Trim bus refurbishment business was purchased.<ref name="AnnualReport2006" /> In April 2006, the [[Govia]] joint venture commenced operating the [[South Eastern franchise]] as [[Southeastern (train operating company 2006–2021)|Southeastern]].<ref>{{cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120210042323/http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/stock-market-statement-passenger-franchise-integrated-kent |archive-date=10 February 2012 |url = http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/stock-market-statement-passenger-franchise-integrated-kent |title = Department for Transport announces integrated Kent franchise |publisher = [[Department for Transport]] |date = 30 January 2006}}</ref>

During September 2006, [[Docklands Buses]] was acquired and integrated into [[Go-Ahead London]], followed in October 2006 by [[Marchwood Motorways]] which was integrated into [[Go South Coast]].<ref name=AnnualReport2007>[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2007pres/ar2007/ar2007.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 30 June 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123174649/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2007pres/ar2007/ar2007.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=1066&categoryid=0 |title=Go-Ahead purchases Marchwood Motorways |date=26 October 2006 |publisher=Bus & Coach Professional |access-date=9 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020222911/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=1066&categoryid=0 |archive-date=20 October 2013 }}</ref>

In June 2007, [[Blue Triangle]] was acquired and integrated into Go-Ahead London.<ref name=AnnualReport2007/> In September 2007, Northumbria Coaches was purchased and integrated into [[Go North East]], followed by Stanley Buses (the bus service subsidiary of Stanley Taxis) in October 2007, and Redby Buses in January 2008.<ref name=AnnualReport2008>[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2008pres/investor/ar2008.pdf Go-Ahead Annual Report 28 June 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123173024/http://go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2008pres/investor/ar2008.pdf |date=23 November 2012 }} Go-Ahead Group</ref> In November 2007, [[Govia]] began operating the [[London Midland]] rail franchise.<ref name=AnnualReport2007/> In December 2007, the [[Orpington]] services of [[First London]] were acquired.<ref name=AnnualReport2008/>

In February 2008, Go-Ahead sold [[Go West Midlands]] to [[Rotala]]'s [[Diamond West Midlands|Central Connect]], two years after purchasing the company.<ref name=AnnualReport2008/> In June 2008, the [[Gatwick Express]] rail service was incorporated into [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]].<ref name=AnnualReport2008/> In October 2009, [[East Thames Buses]] was acquired and integrated into [[Go-Ahead London]] as well as the Horsham operations of [[Arriva Southern Counties]] that were integrated into [[Metrobus (South East England)|Metrobus]].<ref name=HalfYearReport2010>[http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2010pres/half_year2010/halfyr_report2010.pdf Go-Ahead half year Report 2 January 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015000224/http://www.go-ahead.com/~/media/Files/G/Go-Ahead/ir/presentations/2010pres/half_year2010/halfyr_report2010.pdf |date=15 October 2013 }} Go-Ahead Group</ref> In December 2009, [[Plymouth Citybus]] was purchased from [[Plymouth City Council]].<ref name=HalfYearReport2010/> In March 2010, [[Konectbus]] in Norfolk was purchased as well as the [[Hexham]] operations of [[Arriva North East]] and integrated into [[Go North East]].<ref name="AnnualReport2011" />