Putney MP Urges Residents To Plan For 'Games Time' Travel

As full and final Tube and rail ‘hotspot’ data released

London 2012, Transport for London (TfL), Network Rail, train operating companies and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) today published full and final information on when and where the UK's Tube and rail networks will be most affected during this summer’s London 2012 Games. The information on the ‘hotspots’ came as Londoners and those who live, work and travel in the capital were urged to plan and explore their alternative travel options at www.getaheadofthegames.com.

Transport Secretary & MP for Putney, Justine Greening, said:
"London and the UK's transport networks have had a real boost ahead of the Games, with a £6.5 billion investment in projects across the capital effectively delivering an early Games legacy for the British travelling public.

"However, we know there will be times where unprecedented numbers of people will be travelling through certain Games-time transport hotspots this summer. I encourage businesses and individuals to plan how they are going to travel this summer, so we can deliver a fantastic Games that the whole country can be part of and proud of. And across Government we’ll be encouraging our staff to work and travel more flexibly during the Games.”

Up to three million additional journeys are expected to be made in London alone on the busiest days of the Games, as London transforms into a giant cultural and sporting venue. As a result, the transport networks of London and the UK will be very busy, and at certain times and certain places will be much busier than usual. For the first time, ‘hotspot’ information – which is based on the operational plans of ATOC, Network Rail, train operating companies and TfL – has been made available for both national railway stations and for the Paralympic Games period. In addition detailed station descriptions have been produced for all the previously announced ‘hotspot’ and key stations (53 additional Tube and DLR and five more London Overground stations in all), showing the impact at day-by-day, half-hour intervals.

While around two thirds of Tube and DLR stations will be unaffected, the spread of ‘hotspot’ stations across the public transport network means that the DLR, Central and Jubilee lines will be exceptionally busy at certain times throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The impact of the Games on the public transport network will be tackled by a reduction in those planning to travel, through working at alternative locations, including home, staggering working hours, working longer but fewer days, taking annual leave or swapping to alternative forms of transport - including walking and cycling.

For those who still need to travel at peak times, TfL, Network Rail, the train operating companies and ATOC have now provided the complete and final picture on which stations will be most affected, and advice on alternative travel options, available at www.getaheadofthegames.com. Examples of station and Tube ‘hotspots’ include:

Bank Tube and DLR station – will be exceptionally busy between 08.00-10.00 and 16.00-22.00 on weekdays throughout the Olympic Games, and 08.00-11.00 and 14.30-20.00 on weekdays throughout the Paralympic Games due to spectators using the Central line to travel to and from events at the Olympic Park, the DLR to travel to and from events at Greenwich Park and ExCeL and because they will be interchanging there.
Earl's Court Tube station – will be exceptionally busy throughout the Olympic Games due to the Olympic Volleyball events being held at Earls Court. The station will be particularly busy during the changeover periods between the three daily events that will take place, and will be busiest from midday, and in the early evening and late evening from Saturday 28 July to Sunday 12 August.
London Bridge station - will be exceptionally busy between 07.00-09.30 and 16.00-21.30 throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games – including at weekends. Spectators travelling to and from venues in the Olympic Park, ExCeL, North Greenwich Arena, Greenwich Park and the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich will pass through or change trains here and the Jubilee line at London Bridge will be particularly busy.
London Waterloo National Rail station – will be exceptionally busy throughout the Games as it is a key interchange station for spectators, particularly those travelling to Eton Dorney for rowing, the cycling time trial event at Hampton Court, the sailing at Weymouth, the tennis at Wimbledon or those arriving for events in central London – including beach volleyball, the triathlon and the cycle road races. The station will particularly busy between 07.30-10.00 on weekday mornings throughout the Olympics and Paralympic Games.

TfL and London 2012 have been working with businesses in London and around venues across the UK for well over a year and there is increasing evidence that they are planning ahead to reduce their travel and avoid the hotspots. In London alone, almost 500 major businesses employing more than 600,000 people have signed up for specific travel advice and have drafted travel plans which they have shared with TfL.

London’s Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy CBE, said:
“London is going to operate very differently this summer, with the capital transforming into a giant Games-time cultural and sporting venue. As the competition and events programme moves around we need to manage demand on the transport network, which will be very busy and at certain times and certain places will be much busier than usual.

“All of us who live, work or travel in London need to check www.getaheadofthegames.com to see if the tube, train or DLR stations we regularly use will be affected by the impact of the Games, and start making plans to avoid ‘hotspot’ stations at the times they are expected to be in high demand.”

LOCOG Chair Sebastian Coe said:
“London and the UK is gearing up to welcome the world this summer when 15,000 athletes, 7,000 technical officials, thousands of media and millions of spectators will be travelling on our transport networks.

“The ‘hotspot’ data published today provides employers and individuals with the full picture of when and where our Tube and railway lines and stations will be busy, as well as advice on alternatives. As the success of the Games depends on all of us doing our bit to keep London and the UK moving, I’d like to urge everyone to plan now, using the Get ahead of the Games website.”

Warning commuters - SWT from Putney, Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said:
“Train companies will be providing more than 4,000 extra services during the Games, with earlier starting and later running trains and extra carriages added at the busiest times, to help spectators enjoy all of the action.

“But some trains and stations will be particularly busy at certain times. We would urge both our regular and less frequent passengers to do all they can to prepare in advance by checking with their operator or on the Get Ahead of the Games website and adjusting their plans if possible to avoid hotspots.”

TfL and all London 2012 partners say they have two clear and equal objectives;

to support the delivery of a great London 2012 Games and
to keep London and the UK moving, and open for business.

April 20, 2012