Cubic Transportation Systems President Steve Shewmaker was among the small group of Transport for London (TfL) partners invited to meet Her Majesty The Queen during the latest event in a year-long calendar of activities to mark the 150th Anniversary of the London Underground. Her Majesty visited Baker Street Underground Station accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.
During the March 20 visit, the royal party was introduced to key London Underground staff, apprentices and suppliers involved in the restoration of an 1892 underground coach that was a highlight of January’s commemorative steam run. The run included a restored steam locomotive and carriages that recreated the world’s first underground rail journey run on London’s Metropolitan Railway on Jan. 13, 1863.
Cubic is the lead industry sponsor of the 150th Anniversary and also played a significant supporting role to TfL during last year’s diamond jubilee, Olympics and Paralympics, when the performance of London’s transport network was universally praised.
The Royal Party was also shown examples of the London Underground’s past and future, including the Metropolitan Railway Jubilee Carriage No. 353, the oldest operational Underground carriage in existence and used recently on a steam run to commemorate the 150th anniversary.
“Meeting Her Majesty and their Royal Highnesses was such an honour,” Shewmaker said. “I was delighted to be invited to attend on behalf of Cubic but was extremely mindful that I was representing every single member of the Cubic team which does such a great job for Transport for London, every single day. I have never felt more proud of the Cubic team, which I have the privilege to lead.”
