London’s outgoing transport commissioner Andy Byford, told RailBusinessDaily on 24 October that felt “immensely proud” about the opening of Bond Street station.
He leaves the position today, on 25 October, being replaced on an interim basis by Transport for London chief operating officer Andy Lord.
Speaking to RBD at the official launch of the station, Andy Byford said: “This [the opening] was not easily achieved. We have worked incredibly hard over the last two and a half years as a team to deliver the promise that I made to Londoners, which is no further slippage to schedule, no further recourse to public funds.
“Furthermore, that we would have the central section open in the first half of the year, which we did, and that we would have Bond Street and the first element of through running achieved in the autumn, which we will, so I’m very proud of that. It’s an immense team effort, and no better way to bow out as TfL commissioner today then opening this spectacular station.”
The next stage, the start of through running from the central section to Reading and Heathrow Airport, and from Shenfield to Paddington, begins on 6 November. Through running from Heathrow and Reading to Shenfield is expected to commence from May 2023.
“I said to Sadiq [Khan, mayor of London] when I resigned, ‘”I’ll do one last thing for you, I will get Bond Street open before I go” and here we are today.”
He said he knew it was possible to achieve the station’s opening within six months of the central section opening to passengers on 24 May. “That has motivated me highly. I would have stayed on for a few days if it had been necessary because I was determined to meet my promise to Londoners that we would get this station opened. This is our early Christmas present to the West End.”
Image credit: Transport for London / Nigel Wordsworth
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