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Peter Hendy: from London bus driver to transport's Olympic champion Peter Hendy: from London bus driver to transport's Olympic champion
(35 minutes later)
Sir Peter Hendy, the current London transport commissioner who famously once called a commuter train service “shit”, could be the tough-talking man to get Network Rail back on track.Sir Peter Hendy, the current London transport commissioner who famously once called a commuter train service “shit”, could be the tough-talking man to get Network Rail back on track.
Hendy, who will replace current chairman Richard Parry-Jones, has a hard-won record for performing under pressure. This skill should stand him in good stead at the beleaguered Network Rail, faced with spiralling costs to its upgrade plan.Hendy, who will replace current chairman Richard Parry-Jones, has a hard-won record for performing under pressure. This skill should stand him in good stead at the beleaguered Network Rail, faced with spiralling costs to its upgrade plan.
He was awarded a CBE in the 2006 New Years honours for his part in the crisis management of London’s transport network after the 7/7 tube and bus bombings, when he was managing director of surface transport. A month later, he became Transport for London commissioner. He was awarded a CBE in the 2006 New Year honours for his part in the crisis management of London’s transport network after the 7/7 tube and bus bombings, when he was managing director of surface transport. A month later, he became Transport for London commissioner.
After Ken Livingstone’s defeat in the 2008 London mayoral election, Hendy continued in his post under Boris Johnson, and oversaw major investment in tube upgrades, the construction of Crossrail, and the implementation of “Boris bikes” and cycle superhighways. He was awarded a knighthood after spearheading TfL’s adept handling of the 2012 Olympics, described by Johnson as “near perfect”.After Ken Livingstone’s defeat in the 2008 London mayoral election, Hendy continued in his post under Boris Johnson, and oversaw major investment in tube upgrades, the construction of Crossrail, and the implementation of “Boris bikes” and cycle superhighways. He was awarded a knighthood after spearheading TfL’s adept handling of the 2012 Olympics, described by Johnson as “near perfect”.
Related: Network Rail chairman to step down amid spiralling costs of upgradeRelated: Network Rail chairman to step down amid spiralling costs of upgrade
Hendy has spent much of his adult life working for the capital’s transport authority, starting as a graduate trainee in 1975. He began his career driving a Routemaster, the style of bus he would later re-introduce to London’s roads as commissioner in 2012. He has been the body’s longest-serving boss since the second world war.Hendy has spent much of his adult life working for the capital’s transport authority, starting as a graduate trainee in 1975. He began his career driving a Routemaster, the style of bus he would later re-introduce to London’s roads as commissioner in 2012. He has been the body’s longest-serving boss since the second world war.
Hendy’s outspokenness has caused an occasional bump in the road during his TfL tenure, with the executive blaming his “passion” for a foul-mouthed critique of Southeastern trains in an interview earlier this year. His outspokenness has caused an occasional bump in the road during his TfL tenure, with the executive blaming his “passion” for a foul-mouthed critique of Southeastern trains in an interview earlier this year.
“On Southeastern the trains are like the wild west,” he told Management Today. “They are shit, awful. And every now and then some people like the Gestapo get on and fine everyone they can.”“On Southeastern the trains are like the wild west,” he told Management Today. “They are shit, awful. And every now and then some people like the Gestapo get on and fine everyone they can.”
Though Hendy later apologised for the comments, he also made it plain he thinks there is a “big philosophical difference” between how he runs TfL and how the mainline suburban rail services treat their customers.Though Hendy later apologised for the comments, he also made it plain he thinks there is a “big philosophical difference” between how he runs TfL and how the mainline suburban rail services treat their customers.
“If you make a mistake on your Oyster card on the tube, we’ll refund it. On South West Trains, they’ll fine you,” he said.“If you make a mistake on your Oyster card on the tube, we’ll refund it. On South West Trains, they’ll fine you,” he said.
In an internal message to staff after his Network Rail appointment was announced, Hendy said: “It has been an enormous privilege to lead this organisation and have the support of its hugely talented staff, and those of its contractors.In an internal message to staff after his Network Rail appointment was announced, Hendy said: “It has been an enormous privilege to lead this organisation and have the support of its hugely talented staff, and those of its contractors.
“The success of what we do and the regard in which TfL is now held — in London, the UK and the world — are testimony not to my leadership but to the efforts of every one of the people who both work here and for us.”“The success of what we do and the regard in which TfL is now held — in London, the UK and the world — are testimony not to my leadership but to the efforts of every one of the people who both work here and for us.”
“Peter Hendy has given 10 years of superb service to London,” the mayor of London’s office said in a statement. “He delivered a near-perfect transport plan during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and earned TfL the admiration of passengers from around the world. It is quite right that those skills should be deployed on the national stage.”“Peter Hendy has given 10 years of superb service to London,” the mayor of London’s office said in a statement. “He delivered a near-perfect transport plan during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and earned TfL the admiration of passengers from around the world. It is quite right that those skills should be deployed on the national stage.”
Hendy will face a difficult challenge in his new post to restore public and political confidence in Network Rail.Hendy will face a difficult challenge in his new post to restore public and political confidence in Network Rail.
Announcing Hendy’s appointment and Parry-Jones’s departure on Wednesday, the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, also said major improvements to lines in the Midlands and the north of England would be shelved and that the much-vaunted £38.5bn rail investment would not be delivered in time to meet the five-year timetable.Announcing Hendy’s appointment and Parry-Jones’s departure on Wednesday, the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, also said major improvements to lines in the Midlands and the north of England would be shelved and that the much-vaunted £38.5bn rail investment would not be delivered in time to meet the five-year timetable.