The evening's keynote speaker, Mike Brown, new TfL boss & 2016 hon fellow of the IOC, spoke passionately, ‘London Underground 153 years old, TfL 16 years old, and the original Routemaster 60 years old. Transport shapes London and drives growth & reputation in the City. In 2000 at peak the tube delivered two and a half million journeys a day, today its four and a half million everyday. In the same period from 2000 bus use has grown 69% and Uber hit us out of the blue. I am proud to see bank cards making travel payments. The Queen recently launched the beginning of the Elizabeth line at Bond Street, this will bring ten per cent more capacity to the whole network and Cross rail will bring support to another 200,000 homes.’ Mike finished with words about a young apprentice, how proud that apprentice was to have found strength in a vocational job and a career path in transport.
The Lord Mayor talked logistics with strength of his maritime work & chair of the Maritime growth strategy group. He congratulated transport award winners of the evening for both Peel Ports and Port of London. He then spoke of Bank Junction, heart of the city, target to become a car free zone.
The gala ceremonial dinner of the Carmen in their 499th year was feast of logistics transport and fellowship.
