No News is Bad News?

The surprise news is that Go South Coast managing director Alex Carter has “stepped back”. It’s understood that he is “unable to fulfil his duties as GSC managing director” and that his former operations director Andrew Wickham will temporarily step in. Wickham will add Go South Coast to his current responsibilities at Plymouth Citybus. Though Wickham’s appointment is transient, we don’t yet know whether Carter’s absence is similar.

Plymouth meets Poole. All sorts of vehicles are working Damory new contracts at the moment. Here is one such “stranger” (once I believe allocated to W&D) seen queuing outside Poole garage. Note the legals (below) assigned to Solent Blue Line
Inevitably, there’s speculation as to why this is, the more so because Go South Coast is being very tight-lipped. A little openness might prevent this. We’ve not heard anything concrete and certainly cannot reveal anything. It could be a number of things and, as yet, we don’t officially know whether this is a personal decision or business-related. It’s inevitable that some make mention of the bad press associated with the recent Damory Dorset contract take-over but it’s worth mentioning here that matters are now much smoother, operationally.

Carter took on Wilts & Dorset upon Go Ahead’s take-over in 2003. He subsequently oversaw the introduction and development of the successful More-branded cross-conurbation services in the Poole/Bournemouth conurbation. In 2005, it was Carter who was chosen to lead the newly acquired Southern Vectis and Soletn Blue Line operations, upon take-over by Go Ahead. All are now integrated into one business at Towngate House, Poole.

Carter was also responsible for Salisbury’s Pulseline and subsequently its Red network, the upgrading of the X3, the rebranding of the Southern Vectis business, the pinching from under Yellow Buses’ nose of the Bournemouth University contracts and their subsequent rebranding, a corporate rebranding of the coach fleets into Southern Coach Hire colours, a considerable fleet replacement policy, the new red/blue W&D livery and the Purbeck Breezer.

Yes, Carter’s been busy.

He must also take the applause for a Go South Coast restructure to include divisional directors that would pave the way for a considerable expansion of the Go South Coast coaching fleets, notably Damory, a longstanding W&D subsidiary, that has all but conquered Dorset local bus and school contracts.

And that’s also been a source of problems. He was unsuccessful in the bid for a unified south east Dorset conurbation bus operations during the Yellow Buses sale and subsequent intensification of competition.

With Wickham now in a temporary role, it seems that his job back in Poole is to keep a lid on things. Any new, permanent MD will no doubt wish to stamp his mark on the business. And, if Wickham can manage a joint role, will it be too much for a new incumbent? After all, Go South Coast does operate on the Devonian border.