71: Richard Dilks, Chief Executive at CoMoUK
In this episode, Leon's guest is another friend and expert from the world of transport, Richard Dilks, Chief Executive at CoMoUK. CoMoUK is the national organisation for shared transport, a charity for promoting its social, economic and environmental benefits. Shared transport means schemes such as car clubs and bike share where people can use a mode of transport without having to own it. Leon...
32m Mar 10, 2023
32m
70: Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent, The Independent
Leon Daniels catches up with Simon Calder, The Independent's Travel Correspondent and news broadcaster, in this episode of Lunch with Leon. Simon discusses his daily travel podcast, the current workforce issues in the UK travel sector and the trends and news that is seeing travel change every week.
36m Feb 06, 2023
36m
69: Roger Davies
Happy New Year, listeners - Lunch with Leon is back with the first interview of 2023. To kick off January, Leon speaks to Roger Davies, a well-respected commentator on the global commercial transport industry and former senior bus manager, and discusses the 2023 budget and upcoming sector trends. Roger first spoke on the podcast nearly two years ago in episode 31, and is back by popular demand!
39m Jan 09, 2023
39m
68: Steve Edwards, Chief Executive, Living Streets
In the latest instalment of Lunch with Leon, Leon speaks to the Chief Executive of Living Streets, Steve Edwards, on what the charity has been up to and the progress it has made. Since Steve has taken his new role, the charity has seen investment in its work in Scotland double; additional funding for its walk-to-school programme in England; and changes to the Highway Code to put pedestrians at...
29m Dec 14, 2022
29m
67: Alex Warner, MD of AJW Experiences Group Ltd
In this episode, Leon chats with Alex Warner, Managing Director of AJW Experiences Group Ltd, former MD of Tracsis Transport Consultancy. Leon and Alex discuss his 30-year career in the bus, rail and aviation industries and the launch of his new business, AJW Experiences.
31m Nov 23, 2022
31m
66: ITS America Global Congress
In this special edition episode, sponsored by One.Network, Leon heads to Los Angeles Conference Centre for the ITS America Global Congress to discuss the future of transport with key leaders in the space: Joanna Pinkerton President and CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority Tim Haile Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority and his Chair Chris Kelley Stephen Gota Executive Officer, Program...
49m Sep 30, 2022
49m
65: Lunch with Leon episode 65 - Alex Hornby
In this episode, Leon chats with Alex Hornby, CEO of Transdev Blazefield. Leon and Alex discuss the current state of the industry, how customer behaviour is changing and their customer-first approach.
34m Sep 02, 2022
34m
64: Lunch with Leon episode 64 - Duncan Burt
In this week's Lunch with Leon, our host is back on the road - this time at ITT Hub in Farnborough, where he enjoyed lunch and a catch up with National Grid's Duncan Burt. Taking you backstage at one of the industry's biggest national events, Leon and Duncan talk all about his role as Chief Sustainability Officer - looking at how to support the wider move to electric vehicles across large flee...
27m Jun 15, 2022
27m
63: Lunch with Leon episode 63 - Victoria Whitehead & Joy Newton
Leon Daniels OBE has lunch with Victoria Whitehead (Managing Director, Head of Infrastructure and Transport at Lloyds Bank (https://www.lloydsbank.com/) ) and Joy Newton (Associate Director of Sustainability and ESG Finance at Lloyds Bank). As the government is urging us towards net zero, and transport is currently such a huge emissions contributor, what’s the role of technology and what’s the...
26m May 25, 2022
26m
62: Lunch with Leon episode 62 - Rupert Clubb
Rupert Clubb from Transport for the South East (TfSE) (https://transportforthesoutheast.org.uk/) chats with Leon Daniels OBE ahead of the region’s sub-national transport body’s appearance at ITT Hub on 11-12 May. There, TfSE will launch its freight strategy, reveals Rupert: “Using ITT Hub as a springboard is really exciting. Then later in the summer we will launch a consultation on our strateg...
28m May 05, 2022
28m
61: Lunch with Leon episode 61 - Paul Jewell
Will we run out of electricity? That’s the most-often asked question of Paul Jewell, when people discover that he’s System Development Manager at Western Power Distribution (WPD) (https://www.westernpower.co.uk/) , covering the Midlands, South West and South Wales. His answer is simple: No, we won’t. But getting it to the right places in the right quantity, involves planning and forethought. ...
29m May 04, 2022
29m
60: Lunch with Leon episode 60 - UITP Dubai
We’ve got a pretty good idea about what the post-pandemic recovery for public transport looks like in Britain, but what about the rest of the world?  Leon Daniels OBE travels to the MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition (https://www.menatransport.org/website/3387/) (MTCE) at the Dubai World Trade Centre to catch up with transport leaders from around the world. He discovers that the answer va...
25m Apr 25, 2022
25m
59: Lunch with Leon episode 59 - Rees Jeffreys Road Fund awards
In the 59th episode of Lunch with Leon, Leon takes us to the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund awards (https://www.reesjeffreys.co.uk/) ceremony - founded in the name of Rees Jeffreys who was both a great cyclist and an integral part of the Road Improvements Council. The Road Fund was established by Jeffreys (1871 – 1954), and now the charity offers financial support to education and project support - a...
26m Apr 14, 2022
26m
58: Lunch with Leon episode 58 - Glenn Bemment
In this episode of Lunch with Leon, our host talks all things Net Zero with Glenn Bemment, who is the Head of Sustainability for SMEs and Mid Corporates businesses at Lloyds Bank. A key focus for Glenn is how Lloyds can help their clients transition to the low carbon future we need. Throughout the episode, the discussion revolves around the latest research Lloyds commissioned across more than 1...
29m Apr 04, 2022
29m
57: Lunch with Leon episode 57 - Beamish Museum
In this week’s Lunch with Leon, Leon heads to the Northeast of England to visit Beamish (https://www.beamish.org.uk/) - and meet with various members of the museum team.   To start off, Leon learns about the development of the museum since its founding in 1970 - inspired by open air museums around the world which spotlight how life used to be and how life has changed as a result of technology ...
33m Mar 30, 2022
33m
56: Lunch with Leon episode 56 - Martijn Gilbert
This week's episode sees Leon sitting down for lunch in the North East of England, with Martijn Gilbert from Go North East (https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/) . During this episode, the two discuss investment in the brand-new local bus depot, the rollout of new express buses across key routes in the North East, and the rise in electric buses. How has the negative perception of public transport d...
38m Mar 11, 2022
38m
55: Lunch with Leon episode 55 - Christian Wolmar
This week sees Leon sitting down for lunch with Christian Wolmar - a noted railway historian who has appeared on TV, Radio, and is a celebrated author to name just a handful of his accolades and achievements.   In this episode, Leon talks to Christian about his latest book release on Crossrail (https://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/book/the-story-of-crossrail/) and its inner operational workings ...
40m Feb 24, 2022
40m
54: Lunch with Leon episode 54 - Dervla McKay
In this week’s episode of Lunch with Leon, Leon is on a whirlwind trip to Dublin to meet with the Managing Director of Aircoach (https://www.aircoach.ie/) . Dervla McKay was appointed MD of the company following a bright career which started back in 2005 when McKay joined First Group as a graduate trainee. Since then, her experiences have seen her working across public transport usage in Englan...
29m Feb 04, 2022
29m
53: Lunch with Leon episode 53 - Roger French
In this week’s episode of Lunch with Leon, our host sits down with Roger French. Roger may be retired from the day-to-day world of public transport but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still in touch with his industry roots - sharing his thoughts on the pending funding and service changes in the public vehicle sector, the rise of low-emission buses, and the changing of peak transport requirements as ...
35m Jan 19, 2022
35m
52: Lunch with Leon episode 52 - ITS America
In this first episode of 2022, host Leon sits down with a handful of special guests as he makes his way around ITS America. Leon’s first conversation is with Chief Executive Officer of one.network, James Harris, who shares his experience of launching a data company in the USA market and provides insight into his time at the ITS America show. The second guest on Lunch with Leon is the Presiden...
43m Jan 06, 2022
43m
51: Lunch with Leon episode 51 - Ian Constance
In this Lunch with Leon - which actually started life as a dinner in Scotland during COP26 - host Leon Daniels OBE chats to Ian Constance, who is the CEO of the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (and if you don’t know what that is, then it’s a good thing you’ve found your way to this episode!) Picking up from where their conversation over dinner left off, this episode provides insight into the rea...
30m Dec 20, 2021
30m
50: Lunch with Leon episode 50 - Ben Plowden
Fresh from attending COP26, Leon Daniels OBE has lunch with Ben Plowden, formerly of Transport for London, who is one of the country’s leading minds on urban planning, the environment and ensuring a sustainable lifestyle. They chat about Independence Day and State of Fear, and why the climate emergency doesn’t feel like an emergency, in the way that Covid did last year. And, why COP26 was a pa...
31m Dec 01, 2021
31m
49: Lunch with Leon episode 49 - Justin Coetzee & Graeme Inglis
A very different approach to low-carbon cities and public transport, is what sets GoAscendal (https://goascendal.com/) apart. The difference for the global mobility advisory company founded by Ascendal Group and GoMetro, is that they are consultants who have real-life experience of running public transport. Now they are harnessing the potential of data technology, by using their Cambridgeshire...
34m Nov 18, 2021
34m
48: Lunch with Leon episode 48 - Anthony Smith
Anthony Smith CEO Transport focus (https://www.transportfocus.org.uk) – the government-supported independent rail, bus and roads watchdog – chats with Leon Daniels OBE about the problem in the public’s understanding of what green transport actually is. Anthony talks about the ‘say-do’ problem: what we say is so different to what we do and how this is especially true when it comes to the enviro...
38m Oct 26, 2021
38m
47: Lunch with Leon episode 47 - Ray Stenning
Do you understand the message you’re giving to your customers? It seems that many companies don’t, reckons renowned brand and design guru Ray Stenning. “It’s not just what you say, but how you say it.” In conversation with Leon Daniels they talk about how public transport’s solution to any problem is to “post a notice.” The “art of communication is a two-way process” says Ray, and explains how...
35m Oct 13, 2021
35m
46: Lunch with Leon episode 46 - Andy Graham
Are we the last generation? In a face-to-face lunch at Brooklands Museum (https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com) , Leon Daniels OBE talks with Andy Graham from White Willow Consulting and the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund (https://www.reesjeffreys.co.uk) and learns how he’s created the Britain’s first ‘connected’ Model T Ford – thought to be Europe’s oldest ‘connected’ vehicle. They move on to talk abou...
36m Sep 29, 2021
36m
45: Lunch with Leon episode 45 - Chris Cheek
Studying the data Chris Cheek has spent a large part of his life providing a great service for the bus industry, by analysing companies’ financial performance, and publishing the results. Now, the new second edition of  his landmark work Understanding Buses (https://passtrans.co.uk/content/index.php/understanding-buses) , brings the picture up to date with a clear, non-technical, jargon-free ...
34m Sep 15, 2021
34m
44: Lunch with Leon episode 44 - Dr Matthew Niblett and Kris Beuret OBE
What is the importance for humanity for its ability to travel? With contributions from many people and casting a totally refreshing view on people’s deep-seated desire to travel, is a new book – Why Travel? – edited by Dr Matthew Niblett and Kris Beuret OBE, of the Independent Transport Commission. Leon Daniels OBE chats to them about editing the book, which has contributions from many people...
37m Aug 19, 2021
37m
43: Lunch with Leon episode 43 - Paul Sainthouse
It’s a return visit by Paul Sainthouse, Past President of CILT and MD Dawsonrentals Bus & Coach (https://dawsongroup.co.uk) , a year after he appeared in the launch edition of Lunch with Leon. Chatting with Leon Daniels OBE over lunch, they discuss the state of the market, why it’s cheaper not to operate coaches in the winter, what Paul learned when he visited ITT Hub 2021, and an important Ch...
28m Aug 03, 2021
28m
42: Lunch with Leon episode 42 - Garrett Emmerson
Pulling together for a common cause Leon Daniels OBE has worked alongside many people in his transport career, and when he was MD Surface Transport at TfL one of his ‘right-hand’ people was Chief Operating Officer: Garrett Emmerson. At the end of May 2017 Garrett became CEO of the London Ambulance Service (LAS) after it was put into ‘special measures’ by the Care Quality Commission (not due t...
36m Jul 19, 2021
36m
41: Lunch with Leon episode 41 - Claire Haigh
It’s great to be back! Having just returned from ITT Hub 2021 – where it was “so great to get back out there and meet real people and talk about the major issues of the day,” Leon Daniels OBE catches up with Claire Haigh, from the Greener Transport Council (https://greenertransportsolutions.com/greener-transport-council/) .  A champion for greener journeys for a long time, they chat about the...
36m Jul 08, 2021
36m
40: Lunch with Leon episode 40 - Gareth Rogers
The world loves to meet… Gareth Rogers, CEO of Farnborough International (https://www.farnborough.com) – home of the famous biennial international air show – talks about events, exhibiting and why ITT Hub is such a good fit with the Hampshire-based business. “Humans like to meet, so I sense we will supplement our face-to-face meetings with Zoom and Teams; I don’t see people not travelling,” h...
23m Jun 15, 2021
23m
39: Lunch with Leon episode 39 - Nigel Harris
The long-awaited Williams-Shapps rail review has been published by the Transport Secretary. While its headlines are a new public body – Great British Railways – providing single national leadership, better integration, simpler fares and smarter ticketing, there’s much detail. To get to grips with the detail, Leon Daniels OBE talks through the plan with leading rail commentator Nigel Harris, edi...
32m Jun 02, 2021
32m
38: Lunch with Leon episode 38 - Philip Gerhardt
A prolific writer of articles and visible on social media, Philip Gerhardt is this week’s dining companion on ‘Lunch with Leon’. Currently General Manager - Route Performance at Arriva London (https://www.arrivabus.co.uk) , Philip is ‘destined for great things’ says Leon Daniels, who charts Philip’s rise through the industry since joining as a trainee 12 years ago. In a conversation that the ...
38m May 25, 2021
38m
37: Lunch with Leon episode 37 - Prof. John Miles
“Make it as clean and simple as possible.” That’s the guiding principles that Prof John Miles Director of Research in Transitional Energy Strategies at the University of Cambridge (http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/jcm91) , reckons we should focus on for transport. He’s no ‘boffin’ either, but also gets his hands dirty in the real world working with global consultants, Arup, and has first-hand...
32m May 13, 2021
32m
36: Lunch with Leon episode 36 - Andrew Braddock
The Great Persuader “It’s about kicking down doors and taking people to see things,” says Andrew Braddock, about how to change the views and perceptions of those in charge, over lunch with Leon Daniels OBE. Andrew – a public transport pioneer, who had a long and distinguished career with the National Bus Company and then Transport for London - chats with Leon about what we could do to change ...
35m Apr 27, 2021
35m
35: Lunch with Leon episode 35 - Anna Whitty MBE
Anna Whitty MBE is the Chief Executive of Ealing Community Transport (ECT (https://ectcharity.co.uk) ), which provides safe, accessible and affordable community transport to people unable to use mainstream transport due to mobility or other difficulties, or because ordinary public transport is unavailable in their area. Formed in 1979, it now offers its services across not just its West London...
26m Apr 14, 2021
26m
34: Lunch with Leon episode 34 - Rav Babbra and Chess Stetson
Doing amazing things for autonomous vehicles… In a trans-Atlantic lunch – with one guest in California and the other  in the UK – Leon Daniels meets with dRISK.  Chatting with CEO Chess Stetson in California and Business Development/Programme Manager Rav Babbra in the UK, they talk about their work with the government-owned Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (C-CAV). We hear how th...
36m Apr 01, 2021
36m
33: Lunch with Leon episode 33 - SPECIAL - Thomas Ableman
Everyone’s take on the National Bus Strategy (https://www.itthub.net/coach-bus-minibus/boris-johnson-axes-de-regulation-in-england-and-promises-a-3bn-bus-revolution/) is different, but who better to comment on it than Thomas Ableman.  With a career in bus, rail and now the founder and CEO of Snap Travel Technology – a virtual coach company which has run 25m passenger miles without any coaches ...
36m Mar 23, 2021
36m
32: Lunch with Leon episode 32 - SPECIAL - Sara Sloman
The many questions about how we reach net-zero In a special edition, Leon Daniels swaps notes with Sara Sloman, who hosts sister-ITT Hub podcast Talking Net Zero (https://www.itthub.net/shows/talking-net-zero/) .  In a wide-ranging, engaging and lively chat we discover Sara’s ‘all-time gripe’ about ‘all-things-green and sustainable’, but they start by talking about a bottle of wine, before mo...
34m Mar 12, 2021
34m
31: Lunch with Leon episode 31 - Roger Davies
With a starter about rail, main course about commuter travel and dessert on the bus industry, this week’s Lunch with Leon sees him talking with career busman, author and controversial straight-talking commentator Roger Davies. Roger sets out why transport needs ‘clean fixes now – not projects that give proclaimed benefits in the 2030s and beyond’. He argues: “We should be concentrating on wha...
34m Feb 26, 2021
34m
30: Lunch with Leon episode 30 - Laura Shoaf
“Public transport is social justice. There’s never a better time to remind us nationally why we’re doing what we’re doing,” says Laura Shoaf, MD of Transport for West Midlands (https://www.tfwm.org.uk) (TfWM) and newly-appointed Chair of the Urban Transport Group (https://www.urbantransportgroup.org) . A planner by background, Laura has extraordinary energy and is a huge force for good for pub...
35m Feb 12, 2021
35m
29: Lunch with Leon episode 29 - Sue Percy
Highways for all: From careers to automated vehicles. Sue Percy, CEO of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) (https://www.ciht.org.uk) for past nine years, has long been Leon Daniels’ ‘go to’ person for a “sensible view on the whole highways and transportation business” and she’s also a key person for driving forward education and qualifications in this sector. Adds ...
34m Jan 29, 2021
34m
28: Lunch with Leon episode 28 - Steve Gooding
The big questions about transport use and where to go from here. This week, Leon Daniels OBE has lunch with Steve Gooding, formerly Director General at the Department for Transport and now Director of the RAC Foundation, where he is a noted spokesman on roads and transport policy. This year he becomes President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and talks about how i...
33m Jan 22, 2021
33m
27: Lunch with Leon episode 27 - Paul Seller
Ricardo has a long history of developing diesel drivelines, stemming from its key involvement in the First World War to reduce exhaust emissions (yes, really) that eventually earned founder Harry Ricardo a knighthood. Today, the British company has a global presence across a range of market sectors – including cars, commercial vehicles, rail, defence, motorsport, energy and environment – with ...
34m Jan 15, 2021
34m
26: Lunch with Leon episode 26 - Gali Bloch Liran
Challenging the ‘old way’ to get the most out of yourself and your team. Over a long lunch, Leon Daniels OBE chats with Gali Bloch Liran who is an executive coach specialising in start-ups, as well as being a lawyer, marketeer, lecturer and global speaker.  She works with CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs to manage the day-to-day challenges and strengthen the mental resilience required to scal...
37m Jan 08, 2021
37m
25: Lunch with Leon episode 25 - Christmas special
All the enjoyable bits, plus some garnish…  Our regular podcast about all things transport-related has a different twist this week with a Christmas and New Year special. If you’ve not listened before, then give this one a try! Over the past 24 episodes, Leon Daniels has chatted with an amazing range of people and he’s filleted just a small handful of the very best, and funniest, bits. He als...
27m Dec 22, 2020
27m
24: Lunch with Leon episode 24 - Elizabeth de Jong
Leon Daniels’ lunchtime guest is Elizabeth de Jong from Logistics UK. Their starter sees them mull over working-from-home and its benefits, before they move onto the main course where they chat about the changes in logistics and deliveries this year. They debate why the government should regard freight and logistics as part of the country’s critical infrastructure and how to get more talent in...
31m Dec 13, 2020
31m
23: Lunch with Leon episode 23 - Graeme Cooper
Tools in the toolbox – how many do we need? Graeme Cooper is Project Director / Transport Decarbonisation at National Grid and, fresh from his appearance on Top Gear, he chats with Leon Daniels about how, in the last week, all the decarbonisation jigsaw bits are finally coming together. Graeme talks with an easy engaging energy and passion, presenting serious thought leadership in an easy-to-d...
31m Dec 04, 2020
31m
22: Lunch with Leon episode 22 - James Haluch
Stripping off on the roads? The Naked Highway. If you’ve not come across the expression, then the Naked Highway is not what you might think... Chatting over lunch with Leon Daniels OBE is James Haluch Managing Director – Highways and Waste Collections, at Amey (https://www.amey.co.uk/what-we-do/waste-treatment/#/) and they get to grips with what our roads should look like in the future – and th...
34m Nov 30, 2020
34m