Sept. 5, 2025
By Nick Behan
With decades of leadership experience across transport, Gareth Llewelyn has witnessed the sector navigate seismic shifts, from evolving travel patterns to the urgent need for decarbonisation. As Chair of the Board at Transport Infrastructure Ireland, he shares his reflections on what’s shaping the future of transport and why a customer-first approach and a collective industry voice are critical to driving progress.
Looking back, what’s been the most transformative change in the sector and how has it shaped operations today?
One of the most significant shifts I’ve seen is the change in travel patterns that followed the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, peak weekday commuting was the backbone of transport planning. Now, hybrid working has become a mainstay, changing how, and when, people travel. We’re seeing fewer commuters buying season tickets, quieter trains on Mondays and Fridays, and a surge in leisure journeys over the weekends. This shift has forced us to rethink how we operate across the board.
It’s more than just adjusting train schedules. It means rethinking workforce rostering, retiming fleet maintenance, and developing new ticket offers that cater to a very different passenger profile. For an industry that often relies on long-term planning and consistency, it’s been a wake-up call to embrace flexibility and responsiveness. We’re only at the start of this journey, but it’s become clear that our ability to adapt to these evolving patterns is critical for the future of the sector.
What’s the biggest sustainability challenge in your area of the sector, and how is your organisation responding to it?
It’s fair to say the sector has already made strong progress on decarbonisation. We’re seeing meaningful steps with the electrification of rail lines, the introduction of electric buses, and the expansion of EV charging infrastructure for road transport. But there’s a bigger challenge at play, decarbonising the electricity grid itself. Without that, we risk trading one problem for another, replacing polluting combustion engines with vehicles powered by electricity generated from fossil fuels.
The task now is to use our collective voice as a sector to accelerate the decarbonisation of electricity generation. We can’t afford to be passive. Our investments and innovations only get us part of the way, true sustainability requires a systems approach that includes how we generate, distribute, and store energy. That’s why, alongside making our own operations greener, we’re advocating for policy changes that will ensure transport’s shift to electric vehicles truly translates into net-zero outcomes.
How do you balance commercial performance with the long-term imperative to become a more sustainable business, and where do you feel the biggest trade-offs or opportunities lie?
I think we’re moving past the days when investment decisions were judged only on financial returns. The broader benefits of transport infrastructure, whether it’s improving social mobility, connecting people to essential services, or driving urban regeneration, are all part of the value proposition now. These are no longer nice to haves; they’re essential components of how we justify investment and secure long-term commercial viability.
Of course, there are still trade-offs. For example, until we develop robust carbon-neutral road surfaces, road construction will add to carbon emissions. But the electrification of the vehicle fleet buys us time to invest in those cleaner technologies. It’s about making sure that each step forward delivers value both commercially and environmentally.
At the same time, we’re seeing an alignment between sustainability and long-term financial health. Projects that reduce emissions and congestion also tend to have a positive impact on operating costs and resilience. The challenge, and the opportunity, is to ensure that every investment decision takes that long-term view, balancing immediate operational needs with the bigger picture.
Where is AI already making an impact, and what excites or concerns you most about what’s coming next?
The transport sector has been collecting data for decades on passenger flows, asset conditions, and service reliability, but we haven’t always used it as effectively as we could. AI will change that. It’s already beginning to transform how we manage assets, forecast maintenance needs, and reduce risk.
But to me, the most exciting frontier is the customer experience. AI has the potential to completely change how we plan, book, and manage journeys. Imagine AI seamlessly integrating journey planning, dynamically updating routes, and even communicating with transport providers to address mobility needs, whether that’s helping someone with reduced mobility or ensuring smooth connections across multiple operators. That’s a step change in how transport can work for people.
Of course, as we rely more on digital systems, we also open ourselves up to new risks. Cybersecurity must be a priority as we integrate AI into operations. But done right, the potential for AI to make transport more responsive, resilient, and user-focused is enormous and I don’t think we should fear it.
Looking ahead to 2030, what single shift will most define the future of transportation, and why?
One of the most inspiring examples of resilience I’ve seen is in Ukraine, where transport professionals have kept vital networks running under extraordinary circumstances. It’s a powerful reminder of what transport is really about, connecting people, even in the most challenging times.
Looking ahead to 2030, I think the defining shift will be how we respond to that challenge of resilience, ensuring that our systems can adapt, recover, and continue to serve people no matter what. That means integrating sustainability, technology, and customer focus into every aspect of how we plan and operate. It also means being willing to rethink how we do things, bringing in new ideas and diverse voices, not just from within the sector but from outside it too.
Ultimately, transport isn’t just about getting from A to B. It’s about enabling people to live their lives fully and safely. That’s the mindset I think will define the next decade of transportation and it’s one I’m proud to be part of shaping.