Friday 30 October 2015

JTAs Interview Leon Daniels

We were very excited to have the chance for our JTAs (Junior Travel Ambassadors) to go to Londo and meet Leon Daniels as part of their work on sustainable travel.

Who is Leon Daniels?
Managing Director, Surface Transport

Leon joined TfL in April 2011 from FirstGroup, where he had been a director of the UK Bus Board since 2000. He is directly responsible for 30,000 staff. He oversees TfL's responsibilities for the safe and efficient running of London's buses, taxis, river services, the road network, congestion charging and Santander Cycles... a very wide portfolio!

What did he do before TfL?
For several years Leon owned and ran his own bus company, which grew to be the largest private sector bus company in London prior to the privatisation of London Buses. He sold the company to FirstGroup in 1998.

I was most impressed with the fact that he uses public transport himself. I thought that someone so important would have a chauffeur! He said that he uses the bus everyday and even used it to get to our interview with him at the Transport Museum
Kieran Dash

Apparently he is a qualified bus driver. When he has a day off he takes part if the TfL bus events and often drives the vehicles himself!
Katherine Barrett

He talked alot about reciprocity. He said that travelling on the network can be quite stressful and busy. He likes to drive the trains himself so that he can tell some jokes and help the passengers to laugh and enjoy their journey home.
Daniel Joy

I thought that such an important job would be really scary. He made it seem very enjoyable and achievable. He made it clear that he is just an ordinary person who really loves what he does every day. 
Melisa Krasniqi 

We also had some great feedback about our JTAs from Martin Day - Havering's Smarter Travel Officer:

I thought I’d drop you a quick line to say how well mannered, enthusiastic, and attentive your pupils Kieran Dash, Daniel Joy, Katherine Barrett and Melisa Krasniqi  were at the LT Museum when we interviewed Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL. They represented the school and the Borough brilliantly. They have been the same at all our meetings and are a credit to your school. 



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