Oda Outlines 2012 Transport Proposals

The Olympic Delivery Authority has published its transport plan for the London
2012 Games which urges spectators to travel by public transport rather than car
to Olympic venues.

The ODA document said it hoped the event would be a “Public Transport Games”
– but stopped short of saying it wanted to ban cars.

The report details planned improvements to public transport links, outlining
new trains, railway lines and stations, as well as improved walking and cycling
routes and transport options on the River Thames.

Proposals by the ODA include free travel card for all Olympic event
ticketholders; personalised travel plans, probably sent to ticketholders’
mobiles showing the quickest route from their starting point to the venue; and
flat-rate train fares to London from across the country.

The ODA said the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, is expected to be
served by one train every 15 seconds during the course of the Games.

ODA 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.’

As many as 500,000 spectators are expected to attend events each day.

Another 50,000 athletes, officials and media are also expected to be
travelling to the Olympic venues.