London Underground Boss Resigns

Tim O'Toole, the Tube's Managing Director, has resigned and will be returning to the US.

The official reason given for O'Toole's resignation is that he wants to spend more time with his family back in the US. However, as the Daily Telegraph says "they have always lived in the US during Mr O'Toole's six years at LU and, until now, he was happy to return at regular intervals to visit them."


The unofficial reason for the resignation is that it's part of a growing row over the multi billion pound shortfall in the public funding for the Tube's upgrade.

Ken Livingstone was quick to show how this is a blow for Boris Johnson, who would have been relying on Tim O'Toole's experience and skills to ensure that as much of the upgrade as possible survived.

Livingstone said "I find it the most unbelievable incompetence and lack of interest in the lives of Londoners for Boris Johnson to lose one of the best public servants London has seen.

I want to thank Tim for his service to our great city. His unique personal qualities and professional talent, which won the hearts of all who worked with him, will be sorely missed."

Peter Hendy, London's Commissioner of Transport echoed Ken when he said O'Toole would be missed and said:

"Tim has led LU to its highest levels of performance while carrying record numbers of passengers - all at a time of great change as billions are invested to improve the Tube. His leadership was exemplified by getting London moving again so quickly after the terrorist attacks of July 2005. We will greatly miss him as a colleague and I will miss him as a friend".

TfL's website said his role will be advertised shortly.

Thanks to Brian Pigeon for giving me the heads up or rather beaks up to this.

London Underground; Tube Posted by annie mole Wednesday, February 25, 2009 Permalink COMMENT HERE
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