Transport
London will be host to thousands of visitors and spectators during the Games and London 2012 organisers are working hard to make sure spectators have as many transport options as possible. As well as maximising existing transport infrastructure, large-scale transport developments and upgrades will ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible. Full details are available from London 2012's official website and we have summarised the key information for you below, including details of an information toolkit for London businesses and the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and Paralympic Route Network (PRN).
London 2012 ‘Travel Advice for Businesses’ campaign
Businesses in London should note that a toolkit of information, including draft competition schedules to demonstrate the busy periods of the Games and maps showing potential travel hotspots, has been made available to businesses.
If your business is based in London and you have not yet considered how the Games will affect you and your staff, click here to visit the new ‘Travel advice for business’ section of the London 2012 website and start building your action plan today.
Transport for London has also produced a decicated website containing advice and information for businesses on transport issues during the London 2012 Games.
Navigating your way through the London 2012 Olympics
Read on for further information on London 2012’s plans to keep the capital moving at Games time, including details of the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and Paralympic Route Network (PRN).
Public Transport
London 2012 is committed to making London’s Games the greenest and most sustainable Games ever. They are aiming to get 100% of spectators to the competition venues by public transport, or by walking and cycling.
For general information about getting around London’s transport network, visit Transport for London’s website or read the VisitBritain guide to getting around London.
Walking and cycling
Enhancements are being made to many of the main walking and cycling routes around London that link to the Olympic Park and other River Zone venues.
Click here to see London 2012’s plans for walking and cycling.
Rail Services
Travelling on London’s rail network is a great option for getting to many of the venues within and around London. The Olympic Park will be accessible by 3 major “gateway stations”:
Stratford International
Statford Regional Station
West Ham
A new, high-speed rail service called the Javelin®will run from St. Pancras International Station to Stratford International in just 7 minutes. From there it is just a few hundred metres walk to the Olympic Park. St Pancras International is a central London train station and the port of arrival for Eurostar trains coming from Paris and other parts of the continent. Eurostar passengers will also be able to change at Ebbsfleet for direct Javelin® services to the Olympic Park.
Click here to download a London Underground map showing all the Olympic and Paralympic venues.
Buses and Coaches
Approximately 10% of spectators will arrive at London 2012 venues by bus or coach.
Express coach services will run directly to the Olympic park and to Weymouth and Portland, the venues for the Sailing events. Buses and coaches will provide shuttle services between venues and park-and-ride sites such as those on the edge of the M25, which connect to the Olympic Park or Ebbsfleet where passengers can pick up the Javelin service®.
These services will be a good option for groups and families wanting to travel together and for those with limited mobility as most will be wheelchair accessible.
Docklands Lights Railway (DLR)
London 2012 is investing £80m into improvements on the Docklands Lights Railway, an automated, driverless light rail system that connects with the Tube network and serves a large area in East London.
Upgrades will include a new extension from CanningTown to Stratford, new stations and 22 new rail cards.
The DLR is a good option for passengers with disabilities. All stations have lift or ramp access to the platform. The carriages are spacious and the platforms are as level as possible with the trains, with a small gap, to allow for easy access.
Click here to download maps of the DLR from the Transport for London website.
The Olympic Route Network (ORN) and Paralympic Route Network (PRN)
London 2012 have published plans for dedicated ‘Games Lanes ‘ on London roads during the Olympic and Paralympic Games that will ensure London keeps moving.
The Olympic Route Network and Paralympic Route Network (ORN/PRN) are designed to ensure that athletes, officials, media and other partners essential to the Games are able to get to and from events with minimum disruption to themselves and to Londoners.
Two and a half per cent of London’s roads have been designated as part of an ORN/PRN, which will be roadwork free and subject to measures such as traffic signal timing changes.
Click here to read the full plans showing the location and extent of temporary ‘Games Lanes’.
You may also be interested in reading about how Deloitte can help you plan for traffic and other disruptions at Games-time.