Ep 22. Building back better, faster, greener, Steve White

On this week’s episode of RTM’s Track Talk, host Ailsa Cowen is joined by Steve White, Chief Operating Officer at Govia Thameslink Railway. Steve discusses GTR’s trains testing negative for Covid-19, turning the organisation jar upside down and sprinkling fairy dust across the railways.

Steve speaks about progress and how “there’s a whole generation of people now who are looking to make sure their travel choices are sustainable ones.”

In terms of passenger numbers, Steve tells us this means “a huge revenue shortfall” and that “DfT are subsidizing that shortfall. In our business alone to the tune of more than £3 million a day.”

Steve identifies that “this pandemic has been really difficult for a lot of people” in terms of mental wellbeing. GTR also recently appointed a Head of Suicide Prevention and have since “made over 400 lifesaving interventions in the last 12 months, that’s more than one a day.”

He also speaks of acts of kindness throughout the pandemic, with one example being a group of train drivers donating their travel money to the NHS. 

 Steve reflects that “we’ve now got a chance to take the best of what we’ve already created and build from here.”