Robert the Engine temporarily moved

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is making more than £100m of improvements to the station to treble its capacity and make it more accessible.

The station will be one of the main gateways for spectators to get to the sporting action in the Olympic Park. During the Games around 118,000 passengers are expected to use the station during morning peak periods.

Robert will temporarily live at the East Anglian Railway Museum (EARM) at Chappel and Wakes Colne Station in Suffolk, and return to Stratford in around three years time.

ODA Director of Transport Hugh Sumner said: 'This is great news for Stratford as Robert will come back spick and span to a vastly improved station. I am delighted that the East Anglian Railway Museum are going to look after him for the next three years, and tell more people about the wonderful and varied history this special locomotive has.

'I hope Robert will gain even more fans in the South East, and that they will look forward to seeing him in Stratford when they come up to watch the Games in 2012.'

Mike Stanbury, Curator at the EARM, said: 'We are delighted to offer Robert a home during the reconstruction at Stratford, and we are going to put him at the top of the museum drive. Robert is replacing an old tank wagon which will go off for a repaint.'

Read the full media release.