Peter Ford (transport administrator)

Peter John Ford, CBE (born 21 November 1938) was Executive Chairman of P&O European Ferries and North Sea Ferries in the 1970 and 1980s,[1] and Chairman of London Regional Transport from 1994 until 1998.[2]

Peter Ford
Born(1938-11-21)21 November 1938
OccupationChairman of London Regional Transport: 1994–1998

History

Townsend Thoresen and P&O

Ford was Chairman of Townsend Thoresen at the time of the MS Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in 1987.[1][3] Following the disaster, Ford was criticised for underestimating the number of people killed in the disaster.[4]

London Transport

Ford was appointed as Chairman of London Regional Transport (LT) in September 1994, replacing Sir Wilfrid Newton.[5] During Ford's tenure, the number of passengers on London Underground and London Buses continued to rise[6] - however cuts by the Treasury of £375m and cost overruns of £500m on the Jubilee Line Extension project increased the maintenance backlog on the Underground and worsened LT's financial position.[7]

In April 1998, amid furore over the potential imposition of Public private partnership (PPP) on London Underground, Ford was removed as Chairman of LT by then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott due to his opposition to PPP.[8][9] Following this, Ford was highly critical of the government’s plan during a select committee, stating that "It’s going to be very difficult to make it work, and I think there is a very big element of uncertainty about the whole thing".[10] Ford was replaced as Chairman by Sir Malcolm Bates - one of the architects behind the PPP.[8][11]

Ford received a golden handshake of £350,000 - the balance of his contract. He was made a CBE in June 1998.[12]

See also

References
  1. Taylor, Lynda King. Corporate excellence in the year 2000 : a framework for success. London. ISBN 1-4481-3575-3. OCLC 1004976204.
  2. "Ford, Peter John, (born 21 Nov. 1938), Chairman, London Transport, 1994–98". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-16096. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  3. Markham, James M.; Times, Special To the New York (1987-03-08). "AS FERRY SURVIVORS WEEP, 408 ARE SAFE IN BELGIUM; 51 Dead and 84 Missing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  4. "The day death swept in through Herald's open doors". The Independent. 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  5. "London Regional Transport Bill (Hansard, 13 March 1996)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  6. Prescott, John (22 April 1998). "London Underground - Hansard". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  7. "Cash-cuts threat to Tube services under threat". The Independent. 1997-02-20. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  8. Seldon, Anthony (2007). Blair's Britain, 1997–2007. Cambridge University Press. p. 253. ISBN 1139468987.
  9. Oliver, Antony (1998-04-23). "Capital risk". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  10. "Underground split could cost £1bn". Railway Gazette. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  11. Wolmar, Christian. (2002). Down the tube : the battle for London's underground. London: Aurum. ISBN 1-85410-872-7. OCLC 50402287.
  12. "Queen's Birthday honours 1998". The Independent. 1998-06-13. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
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