London 2012 Olympic Games: Service and Capacity Enhancements
Learn how we ensured the network was fit to carry 10 million ticketed spectators over just 17 days
TfL upgrades and enhancements for 2012 included: extension of London Overground; enhanced capacity to operate longer trains; more frequent services on London Overground between Willesden Junction, Highbury and Islington and Stratford; increased capacity at West Ham Station and direct access to the Greenway; and Green Park and Southfields step free access works. Oh, and the construction of a cable car over the Thames!
Update on Olympics enhancements on Docklands Light Railway (2009-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Accommodating Unprecedented Levels of DLR Demand: New Cars
The London Bid included an undertaking to purchase 22 additional DLR rail cars to run an enhanced Olympic service, which would then be available for future DLR service enhancements. As it was, 55 extra rail cars were purchased
Update on Olympics enhancements on Docklands Light Railway (2009-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
2008 Projection of 2012 DLR Network
Extensions to Stratford International and Woolwich Arsenal were built. 4 new stations were created: Star Lane, Abbey Road, Stratford High Street, and Stratford International. New DLR services were introduced between Stratford International and Beckton
Getting the DLR Games Ready
Video clip discussing work required (40 seconds)
DLR Infrastructure
Video discussing some key power upgrades carried out prior to the Games (40 seconds)
Pamphlet giving update on the Woolwich Arsenal extension
TfL further increased the capacity on the DLR service through a 2.6km track extension from King George V Station to Woolwich Arsenal
Update on Olympics enhancements on Docklands Light Railway (2009-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Modernisation of Stratford Station
This was a key part of the original London bid. Works included platform extensions, 300m of freight loop, infrastructure, crossovers, and a siding connection for the Olympic Village batching plant
West Ham Station Scheme
This created a high capacity walking route for spectators to leave the station and head onto The Greenway
Day 9 of 2012 Olympic Games Docklands Light Railway train service overview (2012-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Train Frequency on Day 9 of Olympic Games
Olympic Games Docklands Light Railway Daily Train Service Overview (2012-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
2012 Olympic Games DLR Train Service Map
Emphasis placed on DLR
2012 Olympic Games London Underground Daily Train Service Overview (2012-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
2012 Olympic Games Daily Train Service Overview
Emphasis is on London Underground
Day 9 of 2012 Olympic Games London Underground train service overview (2012-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Day 9 of 2012 Olympic Games London Underground Train Service
Diagrams showing venues, events, and times in operation, which lines will be affected, and the train frequency
Detailed timetables were produced specifically for Olympics services. The running hours of all modes of transport were extended to ensure that everyone was able to get home from every venue
Some adjustments to bus services were necessary. The core aim was to create a network that worked while identifying the sections that could benefit from additional capacity, at the same time as managing the disruptions caused by all the road events.
Buses from Liverpool Street
The bus strategy focused on maintaining the bus network, adjusting it to fit Games-time need
The UK's first urban cable car created a new link across the Thames when it joined the Capital's transport network in 2012. The service was opened on 28 June 2012 in time for the 2012 London Olympics. It was built to connect the ExCeL Centre, which hosted martial arts, boxing, table tennis and weightlifting, with the O2, which hosted gymnastics and basketball. During the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, the Cable Car was used for over 850,000 passenger trips.
Launching the Cable Car
(30 seconds)
Building the Cable Car
(30 seconds)
(10 seconds)
Better connections legacy (2012-10-04)TfL Corporate Archives
Games Projects with Legacy Value
Improved services on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Central line, Jubilee line, and London Overground (LO); new signalling trains and refurbished stations on the LO - many step-free; innovative maintenance plans and procedures
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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