The FTL Podcast

Fare evasion costs TfL an estimated £190m a year in lost income. In this episode, London Underground's former Operational Research Manager Gerry Weston shares his thoughts on the challenges facing TfL in it's continual fight against fare dodgers.

In this podcast we examine TfL's Superloop, a network of express bus routes which aims to improve connections and journey times between key outer London town centres and transport hubs. Transport consultant John Barry examines the development of Superloop and considers if it indeed improves journey times across and around the capital. 

Shane Mann, CEO of fleet intelligence & management software company Tranzaura, is our guest for the 17th edition of the FTL Podcast.  Tranzaura's ‘FleetNow’ platform helps fleets and transport operators power up decision-making and operational efficiency whilst lowering costs and risk.  Shane outlines how IT and Artificial Intelligence are helping to transform the bus maintenance sector, and why the bus driver will a remain key element in delivering effective public transport services.

What is micromobility and can it improve life for the disabled?  Gordon McCullough, CEO of the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) is the guest in the latest Future Transport London discussion.  Asking the questions are Greenwich Councillor and FTL member, David Gardner, and teacher and campaigner Salli Martlew.   

Our guest for this episode is Steven Meersman, one of the founders of Zenobē, a leading owner and operator of battery storage in the UK.  In the podcast Steven discusses the challenges of providing power to 25% of the UK e-bus market. Zenobē’s EV report, Charging forward: How electric bus fleets can energise the UK’s cities is available here

Maggie Heraty OBE, FTL member and advisor on accessible transport, and Martin Barber OBE, former Director at the United Nations, discuss the challenges of improving access to transport for disabled and other groups. Asking the questions is Andrew Smithers

Nicole Pastore, cofounder of Solve the School Run, discusses the campaign group's mission to create a safe, clean and green school run for every child across London and beyond.   

In this episode of the FTL Podcast, special guest Simon Pirani, honorary professor at the University of Durham and author of Burning Up: A Global History of Fossil Fuel Consumption, proposes the introduction of free public transport across the capital.

FTL's Neil Roth proposes repurposing the Phase 1 tracks between Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common as a new western branch of the Elizabeth line. Connecting the HS2 tracks at Old Oak Common to the existing Elizabeth Line tracks nearby would be much quicker, simpler, and cheaper than extending HS2 to Euston.    

In the second of two podcasts, Dr Drew Pearce, Research Associate in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London, considers the challenges of decarbonising the broader transport sector beyond private car usage. The first episode is available on the FTL website at https://www.futuretransportlondon.org/podcasts 

In the first of two podcasts, Dr Drew Pearce, Research Associate in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London, considers the challenges of decarbonising the transport sector. In this episode Dr Pearce looks at climate policy and its implications for private car usage. 

Future Transport London's Andrew Bosi explains the challenges of bringing HS2 into central London and why Old Oak Common rather than Euston may end up as the long term terminus for the completed HS2 line.

Dominic Leggett from the Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition explains why current plans for a new Thames crossing need rethinking. The podcast is introduced by FTL Chair, Chris Barker and was recorded over Zoom in March 2023.      

David Gardner, Chair of the Highways Committee at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, discusses the challenges of transport planning in South East London, including implementing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, tackling air pollution and the ongoing controversy of the Silvertown Tunnel. The podcast is introduced by FTL Chair, Chris Barker and was recorded over Zoom in February 2023.      

Andrew Braddock, life-long tram advocate and the Vice President, and immediate past Chairman of the Light Rail Transit Association, looks at the future of the tram in our cities.  Asking the questions are FTL's Maggie Heraty and Paul Ebbutt and the episode is introduced by FTL Chair, Chris Barker. The podcast was recorded over Zoom in September 2022. 

Ollie Lord of the Clean Cities Campaign considers the development and future of road user charging in the capital.  Asking the questions are FTL's Maggie Heraty and Tim Root and the episode is introduced by FTL Chair, Chris Barker. The podcast was recorded over Zoom in August 2022. 

Future Transport London's Andrew Bosi looks at the ongoing funding crisis at TfL (Transport for London).  Asking the questions are FTL's Chris Barker and Neil Roth.  The episode was recorded over Zoom in March 2022.

Jeremy Leach, Chair of London Living Streets and Future Transport London member, presents the case for the increased adoption of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) across the capital.  Asking the questions are FTL's Chris Barker and Neil Roth.

Christian Wolmar, the UK's leading writer & broadcaster on transport, considers the ups & downs of the Crossrail project. Signed copies of Crossrail, the Whole Story are available via www.christianwolmar.co.uk