Lunch with Leon

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

106: Ben Plowden

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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105: David Astill

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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104: Bill Hiron

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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103: Sophie Bancroft

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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102: Shravan Joshi

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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101: Sean Collins

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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100: Lord Peter Hendy

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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99: Christmas Special 2024

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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98: Thomas Ableman returns!

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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97: Emma Hignett returns!

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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96: David Pugsley & other friends

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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95: Edward Adoo & Simon Lederman

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 
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94: 120 Years of Hong Kong Tramway

August 13, 2024 • 39 mins
A special episode of the show, with live speakers from the recent 120th anniversary of the Hong Kong Tramway, affectionately known by locals as the 'Ding Ding'. Leon also speaks with fellow event attendee Vicky Koo, Global chair of Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT), about the work they are undertaking to help support the careers of women in the transport and logistics industry.

Passenger Transport: www.passeng...
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93: David Boden, Stagecoach East

July 16, 2024 • 35 mins
The latest guest on the Lunch with Leon podcast is David Boden, Business Development Director, Stagecoach East and Chair of the CP Bus Alliance. Leon and David discuss their shared passion for putting customer needs at the centre of transport planning, strategies for effective bus and rail integration and the headache of road works on bus services. Plus, how do we tackle the growing epidemic of ‘geographical ignorance’ and its...
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92: Paul Comfort & Simon Reed

June 25, 2024 • 32 mins
This week, Leon is joined by transport evangelist Paul Comfort and technology expert Simon Reed to discuss Paul’s latest book, The New Future of Public Transportation. Listen now for a deep dive into the hot topics in the transit industry as well as insights from the book featuring expertise from 30 transport leaders worldwide.

Passenger Transport: www.passengertransport.co.uk 
Transit Unplugged podcast: https://t...
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91: Stephen Bramall (General Election Special)

June 10, 2024 • 38 mins
UK General Election Special: With less than a month to go until polling day, Leon is joined by political consultant Stephen Bramall for a no-holds-barred conversation about how a new government could impact transport in the UK. Listen now to for a dive into the challenges of devolution, Stephen’s thoughts on how a shaken-up front bench might impact governance and whether transport will feature on campaign agendas. The two als...
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90: Jo Field

May 21, 2024 • 28 mins
Jo Field, Founder of JFG Communications and President of Women in Transport sits down with Leon to discuss the challenges women face in advancing in transport, and what can be done to close the gender diversity gap. 

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89: Caroline Pidgeon

April 22, 2024 • 34 mins
LibDem London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon comes to Lunch with Leon and talks about the successes of the past and the opportunities for the future...
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88: Beverley Bell CBE

April 8, 2024 • 33 mins
Former Senior Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell talks over lunch with Leon Daniels about her times as the most senior regulator for freight and passenger industries, and about what she has been busy doing since.
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87: Will Whitehorn

March 12, 2024 • 37 mins
We travel into space with Will Whitehorn the former CEO of Virgin Galactic as we discuss how huge an effect the space industry does for transport in its widest sense. Will also reflects on his time with Virgin Group and as Deputy Chairman of Stagecoach and the incredible progress transport has made with technology
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