No transport engineering works during the 2012 Olympics

Transport for London and National Rail have announced that there will be no engineering works during the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

It has been agreed that there would be no planned closures on London Underground, London Overground, DLR, Tramlink and National Rail for 10 days before and after the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. In addition, there will be minimal closures before the events. This will allow visitors experience in London a good one and maximise transport services particularly at weekends.

A lot of work has gone into preparing for the Olympics and many projects have been completed including longer trains on the DLR and better and improved services on London Overground. In addition, a lot of Tube stations have been or nearly completed including Wembley Park, Green Park and Southfields which recently became a step free access station with the opening of new lifts.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London said:

I want London to be the best big city on earth and we look forward to welcoming the world in summer 2012.

Alongside the Games themselves, there will be a feast of fun and festivities and while it certainly will be ‘business as unusual’, we want to do all we can to ensure people can get around on the Tube and trains as easily, reliably and efficiently as possible.

The proposed dates in which engineering work will cease during normal operation is from 17 July 2012 until 14 September 2012. There will still be overnight engineering work, but there will be no planned station closures.

National Rail have made plans to ensure that engineering works are suspended during this time.

Peter Hendy, London’s Transport Commissioner, said:

We’re looking forward to helping London deliver a fantastic Games and summer in 2012.

We want to show that London is a city that works, and enable all Londoners and visitors to enjoy it to the full.

That’s why we’re suspending our engineering upgrade works just prior to the start of the London 2012 Olympics until the conclusion of the Games.

We’re also on track to deliver all our 2012 transport upgrades and projects well ahead of the Games, including improvements to the Tube, the upgrade of the North London Line, the re-opening of the extended East London Line and the DLR extension to Stratford International.

Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s Director of Operations and Customer Services, said:

With an estimated 500,000 spectators from across the UK and overseas travelling to and from Games venues each day, Network Rail will play an important role in delivering the first ‘public transport’ Games.

By re-phasing our work during 2012 we’ve been able to provide a clear window around the Olympics, opening opportunities for trains to run later and more often.

Together with rapid response teams on the ground at key locations to fix any problems should they occur, this is another sign that with two years to go London is well on its way to being ready.

In detail, the key 2012 transport projects include:

• Upgrade to Stratford Regional Station – the major transport hub for the Olympics which will be capable of accommodating 120,000 passengers and allow over 200 trains to serve the station during the games.
• Upgrade to the Jubilee line to serve Wembley Stadium, the Olympic Park and Canning Town with connection to the DLR – at 5,000 passengers an hour.
• The DLR extension to Stratford International and London City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal – an important travel link
• The introduction of 55 new carriages on the DLR to increase capacity by 50 percent.
• The upgrade of the North London line and the opening of the extension to the East London line in the north forming an orbital route around London.
• Expansion and modernisation of stations including King’s Cross, Wembley Park, West Ham and Canning Town.
• Step free access at Green Park and Southfields tube stations for Olympic events in Hyde Park and tennis events at Wimbledon.
• The introduction of 54 air conditioned trains on the London Overground
• Improvements to Tower Pier including facilities, capacity and accessibility.
• Improvements to cycling and walking networks in particular, around the Olympic Park.

It is looking good and proving a lot that the London transport network will be ready for visitors use in 2012.

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