Andy Byford, who rose to prominence during his rise to fame as New York City’s subway chief, announced his resignation as head of London’s transit system on Thursday, saying he would return to the United States.
It was not immediately known what Mr Byford would do next, but Transport for London said in a statement that he would “end a 33-year public service career”.
Dear Mr. Byford nicknamed “Train Daddy” when he led the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York from 2017 to 2020, a name that went unnoticed abroad.
He came to London in June 2020 with two main tasks: opening The Elizabethan line was long delayeda $22 billion rail line designed to cut travel times across the capital and stabilize the system’s finances in the face of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
He achieved both: New line opens giddy racers this springand agency secure a long-term funding agreement with the government in August. He also manages a large number of visitors and the logistical challenges after Queen Elizabeth II’s death this month.
Mr Byford said in a statement: “I am so fortunate to have such an amazing journey of transportation and public service and now is the right time to bow my head and move on with my life in the US with my wife. .
Andy Lord, chief executive of Transport for London, will take over as interim commissioner.
Mr. Byford was revered in New York, a city that doesn’t often show affection to its leaders, let alone the head of a struggling transportation agency, that only generates a few positive emotions. On his last day on the job, the crowd of workers gathered and cheered him onfight to take selfie.
During his tenure in New York, punctuality rates improved, fewer trains broke down, and more passengers dared to hope that things could be better. But you repeatedly clashed with Andrew M. Cuomothen governor of New York, a conflict resulted in part leading to his departure.
The move to London was something of a celebration for Mr Byford, who grew up in Plymouth, England and was a station manager on the London Underground early in his career. In the May, The queen attended the opening ceremony of the line being named for her, which Mr Byford said in a statement, was “without a doubt the highlight of my career.”
In an interview in Mayhe says that, while he has enjoyed his time in New York, “I really enjoy being almost completely anonymous in London.”
