Andy Byford, the Transport for London (TfL) chief who helped steer the capital’s bus and Tube networks by means of probably the most financially precarious intervals of their historical past, has resigned weeks after securing a brand new long-term funding deal.
Sky News can reveal that Mr Byford’s departure as TfL commissioner might be introduced on Thursday morning.
His exit after practically two-and-a-half years within the job will go away the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, trying to find a successor who can construct on the outgoing chief’s legacy.
An trade supply mentioned on Wednesday night that Mr Byford had notified the mayor of his intention to step down a number of months in the past.
He is predicted to depart earlier than the top of the 12 months.
The TfL commissioner’s tenure noticed him ship the Elizabeth Line venture – extra generally often known as Crossrail – after years of economic and operational issues.
The 73-mile line is now carrying a whole lot of 1000’s of passengers every single day.
Mr Byford’s most vital short-term achievement, nevertheless, was the supply of a long-term funding deal for TfL after two years during which its stability sheet was ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Caught within the crossfire between Grant Shapps, the then transport secretary, and Mr Khan, the TfL chief was pressured to handle the bus and Tube networks on short-term authorities handouts which generally lasted solely a matter of days.
The organisation narrowly averted having to file formal chapter notices on a number of events, such was the fraught nature of the negotiations.
Its newest deal, finalised late final month, runs till March 2024.
In whole, TfL has been handed £6bn to maintain it afloat because the outbreak of COVID within the spring of 2020.
On Wednesday, Mr Khan mentioned he would offer an extra £500m of funding to TfL, triggering options of council tax hikes for inflation-hit Londoners.
The London mayor had additionally warned of great cuts to companies previous to the newest deal being struck, whereas he mentioned final month {that a} “significant funding gap” remained and would probably imply fare will increase.
Pensions reform remaining a contentious problem at TfL at a time when a lot of Britain’s public transport community is being affected by industrial motion.
It was unclear on Wednesday night whether or not Mr Byford, who is claimed by colleagues to have been an inspirational chief through the challenges of the previous two years, supposed to stay within the UK or whether or not he had one other job supply lined up.
Industry analysts pointed to Andy Lord, TfL’s chief working officer, as a logical inner candidate to take the helm.
Mr Lord joined TfL in 2019 and is liable for general administration of the London Underground community.
Mr Khan, who chairs TfL, is however anticipated to conduct a complete exterior seek for a brand new commissioner.
Appointed in May 2020, simply weeks after London was put into its first coronavirus lockdown, Mr Byford arrived with a stellar observe report as the previous president and chief govt of the New York Transit Authority, the place he was credited with modernising a troubled public transport system.
He additionally ran the equal community in Toronto, Canada, whereas he has additionally held roles in New South Wales, Australia, and at plenty of UK rail operators.
Mr Byford started his profession as a graduate trainee at London Underground in 1989, ultimately changing into normal supervisor for customer support on the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria traces.
Among the opposite key operational moments throughout his tenure had been this 12 months’s Platinum Jubilee and the mourning interval following the dying of Her Majesty The Queen, when London noticed an inflow of tourists who wished to pay their respects.
TfL can be liable for licensing personal rent corporations together with Uber Technologies, with which it fought a number of authorized battles over its refusal to award the ride-hailing app a long-term deal.
TfL declined to touch upon Wednesday night.
Source: information.sky.com”