Master of the rail timetable Jonathan Tyler passes away

Transport campaigner and consultant Jonathan Tyler has passed away aged 85. He was founder of consultancy Passenger Transport Networks in York, and became the first Fellow of the Foundation for Integrated Transport (FIT) in 2019, working on a project studying the potential for Britain to adopt Switzerland’s timetable practices.

He consistently focussed on the importance of the timetable.

Jonathan Tyler worked for railways in the UK for 60 years – in a control office, as an enquiry clerk, traffic apprentice and assistant yard master, a sponsored University lecturer and, most recently, a consultant and advocate of the role of public transport in communal life.

Peter White, Emeritus Professor of Public Transport Systems at the University of Westminster, told LTT: “I must have known Jonathan Tyler for about 50 years, from first meeting him in the mid-1970s, shortly after he had published his pioneering work with R.Hassard on rail passenger demand modelling. 

“We were both involved in the London Amenity and Transport Association (LATA) from that time, and subsequently had contacts on a number of matters related to public transport research and policy. 

“In particular I recall his enthusiasm for integrated rail timetabling on the lines of the 'Taktfahrplan' concept. His views were sometimes passionately held and expressed. During the 1990s I had some involvement with the Egyptian National Institute of Transport (ENIT) and recall him contributing at my suggestion to a short course there, both of us being based in Cairo for a few days for that purpose (and have the photograph to prove it).”

His daughter Katie Tyler said: “Between 1999 and 2003 Dad led a government-academic-industry project to assess the impact on the demand for rail travel of regular-pattern, integrated timetables. He deployed Swiss timetable-planning software in several case studies of potential applications in Britain. His advocacy is known through many papers, letters, articles, lectures, workshops and submissions to inquiries.

“His transport planning continued until the weekend he died and a colleague wrote, ‘We worked closely together over the past six months lobbying MPs and the Government on rail reforms, and in November, the Railways Bill. His submission was called, ‘Let the Clock-face design the timetable’. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things relating to railway timetables.'”

She added: “I also remember happy hours spent debating who had the harder job - Dad in getting people to understand the challenges of trains and passengers flowing efficiently round the country or me persuading NHS hospitals to manage an efficient flow of patients through operating theatres. Both having people, staff, equipment, safety, efficiency, demand, supply and cost as important parameters.”