Scottish company is preferred bidder for multi-million pound contract to provide buses and coaches for London 2012 Games

The ODA expects that for journeys to the Olympic Park, around 10 per cent of spectators will use direct coach services, with a further 11 per cent likely to use park-and-ride services.

The contractor will provide:

• Around 500 buses and coaches for venue shuttle services and park-and-ride;
• Around 90 buses and coaches for park-and-ride services, to connect parking sites on the periphery of the M25 with the Olympic Park and Ebbsfleet;
• Around 300 coaches (sub-contracted from fleets up and down the country) to operate a network of express coach services to the Olympic Park and Weymouth and Portland;
• Management of the direct coach operations;
• A bus and coach services reservations and ticketing system; and
  
• Operational support staff at all bus and coach locations to manage the fleet.

ODA Transport Director Hugh Sumner, said: 'We are aiming for the first public transport Games in 2012 with spectators arriving at venues by rail, walking, cycling and coach services. About 10 per cent of spectators will use direct coach services, and a further 11 per cent will use park and ride services to get to events and venues across the country.  As such this is a significant contract which will help ensure the ODA meets spectators travel requirements in 2012.'

Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Olympics, said: 'Hundreds of thousands of spectators will be using buses and coaches to get to Olympic venues in 2012, making this a very important contract. I congratulate First Group – they are now as much a part of the 2012 team as the construction firms across the country building the park. As a company based in Aberdeen, this is yet another example of how businesses from in Scotland benefitting from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.'

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said: 'Good transport is absolutely vital to a successful Games. This contract will provide crucial links for thousands of spectators throughout the country making the Olympic Park an accessible and cost effective destination. It also demonstrates that the benefits of London 2012 are being felt throughout the UK, providing a vital economic boost at a time of financial difficulty.'

The procurement process began in August last year. Seven bidders were shortlisted from 78 firms that expressed an interest.

Notes to editors:

1.      For pictures of the First Group Chief Executive, Moir Lockhead, and the ODA’s Project Manager for Spectator Buses and Coaches, Allan Edmondson, on the Olympic Park, please visit: http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?nav=pr133153089
 
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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)20 3 2012 700.

The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.

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