London 2012 Olympic Games: The Transport Big Picture
The scope of transport operations for the London 2012 Games was the most demanding the nation’s transport network has ever had to meet...
Day 9 of 2012 Olympic Games Docklands Light Railway train service overview (2012-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Delivering the transport operation for London 2012 required a unique adaptation to existing networks and services. And as 24 competition venues and two thirds of spectators were based in London, much of this duty fell to TfL
Number of ticketed spectators per day of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (2012-10-01)TfL Corporate Archives
34 venues, 10,500 athletes, 8.8 million ticketed spectators and 22,000 media
For the Paralympics this was 20 venues, over 4,000 athletes, 2.7 million ticketed spectators
The commitment was made at bid stage to deliver the first ever wholly public transport Games. 6 principles underpinned the transport strategy:
· Movement of athletes as top priority
· Virtually 100% of ticketed spectators to travel by public transport, walking, or cycling
· London to be kept moving and business continuing
· The Games must be accessible
· A lasting, positive legacy must be left
· Maximum value for money must be achieved.
2012 Games travel programme development (2012-10-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Programme development
Mark Evers, Director of Games for TfL, discusses how the venues being in the heart of London presented a huge challenge
The transport section of London’s bid for the 2012 Games highlighted the vast experience of London and TfL in event management. A commitment was made to underpin the transport plan with:
· Station capacity increases and enhancements
· Train capacity increases and enhancements
· Travel demand modelling
· Travel demand management
· Integrated ticketing
· Legacy
Statistics for 2012 Olympics Transport (2012-09-01) by Transport for LondonTfL Corporate Archives
Statistics reported include: 35% of Londoners changed the way they travelled during the Games; 62 million journeys on the Tube during the Games; 47 new trains on the Victoria line; 1,200 traffic signals upgraded; 9,227 cycle hire bikes available
The specific London Underground section of the bid built on these commitments, promising:
· An Olympic and Paralympic Route Network
· Capacity growth on services and stations
· Stratford Station Redevelopment
· DLR and West Ham Station Upgrades
· North London Line Upgrades
· Travel demand management
· Engagement with freight industry and changes to freight BAU
· Legacy
Oyster Card and Oyster Card wallet (2012-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Coming together for success
Peter Hendy, TfL Commissioner: "....we put in sufficient planning in the early part of the period of the 7 years..."
Operational coordination (2012-10-01)TfL Corporate Archives
A record 4.5 million journeys were made on London Underground during a single day in the Games. 62 million journeys were made overall, 35% more than normal
In the Paralympic period on some days tube passengers were up by 25% on the same period in the previous year
Magenta used for 2012 Games signage (2012-08-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Keeping London Moving
TFL was to deliver c.100% of ticketed spectators by public transport, foot, or cycle. TfL was also to design the Games signage, and assist with the planning and delivery of Central London Zone and Road events. From 2011, TfL took on responsibility for Travel Demand Management
During the bid stage it was recognised that volunteers would be needed to deliver many aspects of the Games experience. More than 3,000 TfL staff volunteered their time to act as Travel Ambassadors (TA's) during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Between them, the TA's covered a total of 29,152 shifts across many front line areas of the business.
Images of travel ambassadors (2012-08-01)TfL Corporate Archives
The Magenta Army
Station based TA's informed and directed spectators and other travellers, as well as assisting at lifts; TA's at bus stations and on bus diversion routes gave real time travel information, managed passenger expectations, and gave information on accessible transport
Advertisement for travel ambassadors (2012-04-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Call for Volunteers
TA's at piers provided advice on River Services; TA's on Dial-a-Ride vehicles worked to provide door-to-door customer assistance; TA's were positioned at cycle docking stations; Road Events TA's were based across Central and south west London; TA's assisted at Taxi Ranks
Travel Ambassadors directing wheelchair user at Stratford Station (2012-09-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Stratford Station
Station based TA's informed and directed spectators and other travellers, as well as assisting at lifts; TA's at bus stations and on bus diversion routes gave real time travel information, managed passenger expectations, and gave information on accessible transport
Image of a travel ambassador outside West Ham Station (2012-08-07)TfL Corporate Archives
Proud to Help
Central London Zone/Road Events TA's were based at Pods across Central London and, on road event days, at information points set up in Central and south west London; Taxi/Private Hire TA's covered Taxi Ranks, assisting customers as to the best use of these services
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
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