London Subway Head Kiley Is Fired

Bob Kiley was today fired as chairman of the board of London Regional Transport for opposing government plans to partly privatize the network. Transport Secretary Stephen Byers fired Kiley, who will remain commissioner of Transport for London and head of the Transport for London board. "I had hoped he would accept our decision [to privatize], despite his disagreements, and work with us and London Transport to deliver a modern 21st century tube for Londoners," Byers said in a statement. "Unfortunately, this hasn't been the case. He has, without authority from the board, issued instructions to senior management to halt these negotiations. This is unacceptable." Kiley, a former New York subway chief, was hired last year as transport commissioner by London Mayor Ken Livingstone and charged with overhauling London's aging, cash-starved subway system. Kiley was replaced by London Regional Transport's former Chairman Sir Malcolm Bates.