Stephen was appointed executive director of the pressure group Transport 2000 in 1988, which changed its name in 2007. He will hand over to a new chief executive this autumn. .

 

“Today’s transport world is a very different one from when I started,” Stephen said. “Back then, sustainability and user interests were fringe concerns and nobody in the Department for Transport would even talk to us. The Government was consulting on shutting the Settle to Carlisle railway, the only trams in the UK were on a heritage line and there was talk of big new motorways in cities.

 

“Now, we are seeing new railway stations and reopened lines, cities are building cycle routes and turning roads into spaces for people and there are new modern tram networks.”

 

Stephen, who received an OBE in 1996 for services to transport and the environment, added: “It’s been a real privilege to lead the Campaign for Better Transport all these years.

 

“There are still big challenges ahead and the organisation will continue to have an important role in the future. I hope my successor, whoever that is, will find the job as rewarding as I have.”

 

Under his leadership the charity helped to save the national Bus Service Operators Grant, encouraged Government to drop above inflation rail fare rises and helped to introduce the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Total Transport Pilots and ‘designated funds’ to make roads better for non motorised users.

 

The group’s President Michael Palin said of Stephen Joseph: “I have enormous admiration for his commitment and dedication to the cause of better and more extensive public transport. Stephen has built the firm foundations on which future work can go forward.”