LONDON — Former New York City Transit President Andy Byford is resigning from his leadership position at London’s transit agency for a position in the United States, but it’s unclear where or if he’ll be taking a new job when he returns.
Transport for London announced Thursday that Byford is resigning from his role as the agency’s Transport Commissioner at the end of October “to resume life in the United States … closing out a 33-year public service career.” The agency said Byford has delivered on two priorities he set upon his arrival in a little over two years at TfL: getting the Elizabeth Line opened without further delay, and leading the agency out of the financial crisis it faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Elizabeth Line opened in May [see “London’s $24 billion ‘Elizabeth Line’ opens …,” Trains News Wire, May 24, 2022], and will begin offering expanded direct service on Nov. 6.
Byford’s success in improving New York City subway operations in a little over two years brought him popularity among the city’s transit users before he resigned in January 2020, after resigning once before and then reconsidering [see “NYC Transit president Byford resigns,” News Wire, Jan. 23, 2020]. The New York Times reported he left after learning his duties would be scaled back.
TfL said Andy Lord, currently its chief operating officer, would become interim commissioner.
Update from 6 months in the future: Andy is joining Amtrak
Maybe that’s the reason for his return to the states?
I thought Mr Byford’s major problem in New York was Gov Cuomo.
There are plenty of urban rail operations that could use Byford’s skills. Washington, D.C., for example.