We had the transport ‘A team’ at an Industry Forum virtual roundtable on, ‘A Post-covid transport transformation?’. Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Jim McMahon MP, kicked off the event. Sector speakers were Andy Bagnall, Director General at the Rail Delivery Group; Katy Taylor, Chief Strategy and Customer Officer, Go-Ahead bus group; Nigel Milton, Director of Communications, Heathrow Airport, and Konstanze Scharring, Director of Policy at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Key points of agreement were that: much of the transport industry has been seriously damaged financially by the big drop in travel during the lockdown; working practices have changed and we will not return to pre-pandemic office use and commuting patterns, and that there has been a massive mood change relating to the climate emergency which means that transport sectors will need to quickly lower carbon emissions. There was optimism that the challenges can be met although the need for a joined up transition plan, linked to a UK industrial strategy, was acknowledged.

Speakers:

Jim McMahon MP, Shadow Minister for Transport

Andy Bagnall, Director General, Rail Delivery Group

Katy Taylor, Chief Strategy and Customer Officer, Go-Ahead Group

Nigel Milton, Director of Communications, Heathrow

Konstanze Scharring, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)

For more information on this event