Rail chiefs have been meeting in London to make sure rail services will be able to cope with the London Olympics this summer.
Mayor Boris Johnson held a Rail Summit at City Hall to discuss plans to ensure London is kept moving and open for business during the Games. The rail industry plans to provide thousands of extra services during the Games, running longer trains, earlier services and additional late-night trains to get spectators home.
Javelin services will ferry an estimated 25,000 people each hour to and from St. Pancras International and Stratford International. The London Underground will be open longer and later at night with extra services later in the evening on the busiest days. Network Rail’s Games timetable was published in July of last year, a year in advance rather than the usual 12 weeks, to allow spectators to plan their travel well ahead.
Says Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, ‘We are now entering the final straight of our preparations to ensure we put on the greatest show on earth this summer. Transport is a vital element and the required upgrades have been completed, lines extended, and plans put in place for extra services to meet surging Games-time demand.
‘But we are not complacent and this gathering of key transport bodies is seeking to ensure unprecedented coordination is in place, that no stone has been left unturned or eventuality unprepared for.’
Network Rail is suspending all disruptive engineering works on rail routes serving Olympic venues and other suburban rail in London from the end of June to early September, covering both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Transport for London is also suspending all planned weekend engineering closures on the Tube and DLR networks during the summer. Boris Johnson is up for re-election on Thursday 3 May 2012.
