London 2012 on track to deliver a world-class transport legacy for London

At the heart of the Transport Plan is the goal of encouraging 100% of spectators to travel to the Games by public transport, walking and cycling. This will be achieved through enhancing and upgrading transport links in and around the Olympic Park and key 2012 venues to offer spectators world-class transport links to events.

The publication of the Plan follows a year of significant progress on upgrading and enhancing these transport links and the ODA today published the 'On Track' document, outlining 15 significant achievements, works in progress and future plans being delivered across the transport industry to keep London 2012 on track to transform transport links across the Lower Lea Valley.

The document outlines the new trains, rail lines, and platforms, enhanced stations, river works, and new walking and cycling routes that have already been delivered or are well underway to serve London in Games time and legacy.

A draft version of the Transport Plan was published in October last year setting out the strategy for safe, reliable and accessible transport for the 500,000 spectators daily that will attend the 2012 Games from across the UK and overseas, as well as 50,000 athletes, officials, and media.

Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive David Higgins said:

'The Olympic Park will host the world’s biggest sporting event in 2012, and will become a new destination in East London after the Games have gone. It is essential we put in place world-class transport links to make this one of the best connected parts of the capital.

'We want London 2012 to be the Public Transport Games. This is not about banning people from using their cars but about making public transport, walking and cycling the most attractive option for spectators travelling to the Games.

'We are already well underway in achieving this by transforming transport links to the Olympic Park and venues around London – work to treble capacity at Stratford Regional Station is underway; the tunnels needed to extend the Docklands Light Railway have broken through; the first new trains to be used on the Javelin shuttle service in 2012 have arrived in the UK and the high speed rail link they will travel on, HS1, is ready.

'With further 2012 transport schemes and enhancements set to be well-underway by the Beijing Games in 2008 and be completed by 2011, we are on track to deliver an early legacy of transformed transport links for east London.'

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said:

'Our transport plans were a key strength of our bid to win the Games. The progress we have made on a wide range of transport schemes demonstrates our ability to hit key milestones in delivering world-class transport for the Games and beyond. We will keep London moving during the Games for everyone – for athletes, spectators and the general public.'

Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said:

'We are determined that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will set new standards for transporting spectators, competitors and officials, carried on rail, bus and walking and cycling networks that should be the envy of the world. This plan outlines how the vision will be turned into a daily reality in 2012 and our plans are already well advanced.

'The International Olympic Committee recognised that transport was a strength of our bid, and I believe it will be one of the outstanding features of London 2012, benefiting not only athletes and spectators but also millions of London transport users for generations to come.'

Minister of State for Transport, Rosie Winterton, said:

'The Olympics and Paralympics will be fantastic events for London and the whole country, and world class events need world class transport. Sustainable, integrated transport networks will be an essential part of the 2012 Games and form an important legacy for east London.

'These plans will bring improved capacity, accessibility and greener ways to travel, whether by road, rail, walking or cycling. I'm sure spectators will enjoy their 2012 visit even more as a result.'

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said:

'As a direct result of staging the 2012 Games we are delivering a £10 billion programme of new and accelerated investment which is already transforming access to the transport network from east to west and north to south. On its own that investment has been excellent news for London but combine it with the £16 billion Crossrail link and within a generation our capital will become the best connected city in the world.'

The draft Transport Plan, published last year, followed extensive consultation across the transport industry to review and evolve the plans, and the first full edition of the Transport plan has now been published. The document outlines the plans for London 2012 to be the ‘Public Transport Games’ with first-class Games time transport and a legacy of world-class transport links for London.

Notes to Editors:

1.Download the ‘On Track’ document

2.The document outlines 15 significant achievements, works in progress and future plans being delivered across the transport industry that will support London 2012:

'New Arrivals'

• The tunnels to extend the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) network under the River Thames to Woolwich Arsenal have broken through;
• The first of the high speed trains that will operate the Javelin® rail service in 2012 have arrived in the UK for testing;
• A new DLR platform has opened at Stratford Regional Station;
• The new Western Ticket Hall at King's Cross St. Pancras Underground Station has opened; and
• The DLR has been extended to provide a direct link from London City Airport to Stratford
  

'On Track for Delivery'

• Work has started on the £104m scheme to treble capacity at Stratford Regional Station;
• The first full version of the Transport Plan has been published outlining the plans for London 2012 to be the ‘Public Transport Games’;
• Work is underway to construct 12 new railway sidings outside the Olympic Park, allowing the site of existing sidings in the Park to be cleared for key 2012 venues;
• Work is nearing completion on Prescott Lock which will enable large river barges to access the Olympic Park by water before, during and after the Games;and
• Work has begun to clean and redesign the Greenway, a vital walking and cycling route through the Olympic Park
  

'The Road Ahead'

• The High Speed 1 route from St. Pancras International will open on 14 November, and will be used by the Javelin® service in 2012 to shuttle people from central London to the Olympic Park in just seven minutes;
• Plans for walking and cycling links into the Olympic Park in Games time and legacy will be fully developed by the Beijing Games in 2008;
• Ongoing works by London Underground will ensure there will be step-free access to platform level by 2012 at 83 stations;
• 55 new DLR cars are being built as part of a 50% increase in capacity of the DLR in time for the 2012 Games; and
• A new signalling system will be introduced in on the Jubilee Line 2009 to reduce journey times, and increase train frequency and capacity by a further 25%
  

3. Download the first edition of the Transport Plan.

4. At the heart of the Transport Plan is the goal of encouraging 100% of spectators to travel to the Games by public transport, walking and cycling. The Plan outlines that:

• One train every 15 seconds will serve the Park, with the rail system carrying 240,000 people per hour – an increase of 100,000 on the usual daily rate;
• The Javelin® rail service, the bullet train at the heart of the rail plans, will speed spectators from Central London to Stratford International Station in the Olympic Park in just 7 minutes;
• The ongoing renewal of the bus, train and taxi fleets will ensure that London’s transport is at the forefront of low emissions technology and walking and cycling will be encouraged; and
• River services are intended to be utilised for spectator transport during the Games providing an alternative connection between venues around Greenwich and Central Zone venues. The ODA is working with London River Services to look at potential legacy benefits of enhancements to existing pier infrastructure and with British Waterways to look at the potential for river services around the Olympic Park.
  

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700.

Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our Work in Progress blog