The TTC has hired a new chief operating officer from Australia to make the trains and buses run on time.

Andy Byford, the COO of RailCorp in Sydney will arrive in November. He will also wear the title of deputy general manager, making him second-in-command to TTC chief general manager Gary Webster.

The hiring marks the second time this year that the TTC has looked abroad for executive material.

New TTC customer service director Chris Upfold came from the London Underground where Byford worked as general manager before moving to Sydney in 2009.

A news release by the government-owned RailCorp, which runs regional commuter rail in New South Wales, says Byford is moving to Toronto for personal reasons. His wife is Canadian and he has a sister in Toronto.

The hiring comes after an international search and internal reorganization following the sudden retirement earlier this year of TTC general manager of operations Rick Cornacchia.

It also comes in the wake of an attempt by Mayor Rob Ford to oust Webster from the top job at the TTC.

The transit system is facing a severe budget challenge. It is projecting an $85 million operating shortfall next year and a $1.5 billion capital funding gap over the coming decade.