Lunch with Leon
The transport sector’s biggest asset is the people that keep everything moving. In this monthly podcast, world-renowned transport consultant Leon Daniels OBE interviews leading figures in the transport industry and discusses the latest sector news and trends. A must-listen for anyone working in transport today. See more here: www.leondaniels.co.uk
Episodes
December 16, 2025 • 43 mins
In a special Christmas edition of Lunch with Leon, Leon Daniels is in the hotseat! Guest host Simon Lederman grills Leon on his 40+ years in the transport industry, with Leon sharing some stories from throughout his career and his hot takes on topical transport issues. He also answers some listener questions (some of whom have been special guests on the podcast themselves!).
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November 18, 2025 • 34 mins
Ahead of the UK's Autumn Budget, Leon explores the UK's somewhat gloomy economic situation with eminent transport expert David Leeder. With soaring national debt squeezing essential transport budgets, David shares his insights on the potential impact on the transport industry and his crucial advice for local authorities on quickly securing promised settlements and tapping into private sector funding.
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November 4, 2025 • 34 mins
In this episode of Lunch with Leon, Leon speaks with Karen Dee, CEO of Aiports UK, the trade association representing the interests of UK airports. The conversation covers growth in the aviation market, the challenge of decoupling emissions from demand, tackling the transport-wide skills crisis, leveraging high-value air freight and the critical role of retail revenue in supporting low-cost carriers.
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October 7, 2025 • 34 mins
In the latest episode of Lunch with Leon, Leon pops his head out of the transport bubble and speaks with a transport-adjacent guest: Paul Whitnell, president of the British Irish Trade Alliance (BITA), a trade and commerce business organisation who describe themselves as "people that know people who help people". Paul shares more about his philosophy when it comes to business and the BITA organisation, whose members across the...
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September 2, 2025 • 35 mins
Leon learns more about the diverse career of transport leader Andreas Schörling, Senior Managing Director of Flixbus UK. Andreas, who lead the launch of Flixbus in the UK in 2021, discusses the company's ambitious plan to build the largest intercity coach network in the UK. The episode also touches on the evolving perception of coach travel, the transformative impact of AI on the transport industry and Andreas' take on work-li...
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August 5, 2025 • 35 mins
In this episode of Lunch with Leon, rail veteran Nigel Holness reflects on his 40-year career, from his early days as a signalling consultant on the London Underground to his current role as a leading transport consultant, advising on major global projects. Leon and Nigel discuss TfL's evolution, their experiences of the 7/7 London bombings, 2012 Olympics, and the establishment of the Elizabeth line. Nigel also shares his pers...
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July 22, 2025 • 30 mins
Leon speaks with nutritionist Anna Earl about the challenges that transport workers face maintaining nutrition, hydration, and wellbeing. Anna shares her advice for workers on how to overcome these challenges and develop a healthier lifestyle.
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July 10, 2025 • 36 mins
In the latest episode of Lunch with Leon, Leon talks with Richard Smith, Managing Director of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) about the key issues facing the road freight industry, including the challenges of transitioning HGVs to Net Zero, the deteriorating condition of road infrastructure and the broader implications of AI. There's also plenty of good career advice from these two transport leaders throughout the podcast!<...
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June 10, 2025 • 33 mins
In the latest episode of Lunch with Leon, Leon speaks with Ben Plowden, the new Chief Executive of the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT). This lively conversation covers various hot topics in the transport industry - the potential softening of the green agenda, rail nationalisation and rail fare debates, the importance of regional connectivity and how to address car dependency. Leon also picks Ben's brains on the anticipated...
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May 20, 2025 • 32 mins
Leon Daniels talks to David Astill, the new chairman of of ALBUM, the Association of Local Bus Managers (and Managing Director of Nottingham City Transport), just after their successful annual conference in Nottingham. David shares some of his highlights from the conference, as well as discussing the impact of local elections on transport policy, the importance of local ownership and management in the bus industry and ALBUM's ...
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May 6, 2025 • 34 mins
Ahead of the organisation's conference on 12-14th May, Leon is joined by former ALBUM chair Bill Hiron MBE to discuss his extensive career in the bus industry, from his days at Thamesway and First Group to owning Stevensons of Essex. The conversation also explores the evolution of London's bus tendering system, Bill's view on the Buses Bill, and his seven-year chairmanship of The Association of Local Bus Managers (ALBUM), that...
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April 8, 2025 • 34 mins
Leon speaks with Sophie Bancroft, HR Director at Network Rail, about her career so far - including various previous roles at Transport for London. The discussion also explores attitudes to rail reform, Sophie's love of the Metropolitan Line and running transport during the London 2012 Olympics - including the tactical use of fake road works! Listen out for nods to several other great transport industry leaders, some fun storie...
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March 25, 2025 • 33 mins
On episode 102 of Lunch with Leon, Leon meets Shravan Joshi MBE, Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee for the City of London, to discuss key transport priorities for the Square Mile, from the successful pedestrianisation of Bank Junction, to the evolution of the vibrant seven-day city ecosystem. The two transport leaders also discuss significant planned office developments in the Eastern cluster, the challenges o...
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March 11, 2025 • 40 mins
For this episode we're taking to the water, as Leon catches up with Sean Collins, CEO of Thames Clippers. Twenty five years ago, Sean co-founded the now iconic riverboat service that has transformed London's river transport and carries 5.3 million passengers annually up and down the Thames. He chats with Leon about recent innovations such as the forthcoming electric ferry, Uber coming on board as a partner, future plans for ex...
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February 11, 2025 • 32 mins
The Lunch with Leon podcast is back for 2025, and we’re kicking off the year with episode 100! To mark the occasion, we have secured a suitably impressive guest: Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE. Currently serving as Minister of State for Rail, Lord Hendy is one of the country’s foremost transport leaders and a passionate advocate for the industry, having previously served as Commissioner for Transport for London, and Cha...
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December 20, 2024 • 51 mins
Sharon Kindleysides, Christian Wolmar and Steve Gooding join Leon Daniels in person for their thoughts on the year
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December 10, 2024 • 39 mins
Almost four years after his first appearance on the Lunch with Leon podcast, Thomas Ableman is back! Leon catches up with Thomas - founder of transport and mobility consultancy Freewheeling - on his time at Transport for London as Director of Strategy and Innovation, and the pair take a deep dive into AI. It's poised to revolutionise the transport sector - but what do organisations need to do to adapt and handle this shift?
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November 12, 2024 • 36 mins
It's not often that we have repeat guests on Lunch with Leon, but we've made an exception for the wonderful Emma Hignett - aka the voice of London Buses, The Elizabeth Line, Go North East and Go Yorkshire. Leon chats to Emma, a brilliant voiceover artist, about her unexpected career in transport, the impact of AI on the voiceover industry, some of the quirkier stops she's recorded in her 'bus voice' and more. Listen to the end...
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October 15, 2024 • 34 mins
An episode of two halves! With Leon due to assume the post of the Master of The Worshipful Company of Carmen (one of the oldest livery companies in London), he speaks to outgoing Master Carman David Pugsley about David’s past year in post. Then, we revisit highlights and hot takes from some of Leon’s favourite episodes of the podcast, featuring transport experts Steve Norris, Christian Wolmar, Simon Calder and Will Whitehorn. ...
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September 10, 2024 • 50 mins
Leon is joined by broadcasters and transport enthusiasts Edward Adoo and Simon Lederman, who discuss when their love of buses and trains began, reminisce about the enduring appeal of the iconic London Transport roundel and contemplate the delicate balance between progress and heritage in the transport sector.
Passenger Transport: www.passengertransport.co.uk
Passenger Transport: www.passengertransport.co.uk
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