Technology has revolutionised traffic management and control in the last 30 years and many local authorities have established traffic control centres, with walls of CCTV screens monitoring the road network, supplemented by data from other sources such as in-road sensors. The centres conduct data analysis, put in place operational plans, and feed out information to the public through media such as websites, social media, radio and TV.  But what is the future for these centres in the increas

The Treasury's commercial secretary Lord Deighton has issued a stark warning that the delivery of an "unprecedented" increase in investment in transport and other infrastructure is threatened by skills shortages. Setting out an update to the National Infrastructure Plan, he said that the Government had increased investment in infrastructure by 15% in four years, "remarkable, against the backdrop of a domestic economy recovering from financial crisis". But he said that the plans for up to 2020 n

ON 30 JUNE, former Independent editor Chris Blackhurst, despite being a longstanding opponent of the proposed HS2 high-speed rail network, appeared to throw in the towel and give up fighting against the scheme. “When the Olympics were awarded to London, I was extremely sceptical,” he began. “They would prove to be a colossal embarrassment, a massive waste of money. They would over-run their budget and might not even be ready in time… [but] I was wrong on every count. &l

Although travel plans have been part of the transport planning mainstream in the UK since the early 2000s, their effectiveness is still constantly being questioned, defended and pondered over. Despite the recent success of travel planning as a demand management tool during the London Olympics, and numerous individual case studies, the aggregate effect of development control travel plans is less clear.  As somebody whose role is devoted to managing the programme for travel plans secured via

Transport for London is stepping up a travel demand management (TDM) programme to try and alter travel behaviours at the busiest times of day, during times of disruption to transport networks, and during major events.  Building on the experiences of using TDM techniques during last summer’s Olympics, TfL has established a Travel Demand Management board, whose membership includes the DfT, Network Rail and the Association of Train Operating Companies. The board is overseeing an emergin

Stagecoach recorded a 6.3% increase in revenues from its UK bus operations outside London last year but rising costs resulted in a lower operating margin. Total revenue for the Stagecoach Group in 2012/13 was £2.8bn (excluding intangible asset expenses and exceptional items) – up 8.3% on the £2.6bn for the previous financial year. Operating profit increased by 8.1% to £256m, earnings per share rose by 18.9% to 30.2p, and the company’s full-year dividend will rise

UK transport is heavily influenced, as elsewhere, by political leaders. Transport problems and challenges exist at both a national and local level and it is Boris Johnson Mayor of London who New Transit believes has continued to be most significant in his interventions in transport over the past year and hence included in our top dozen power people. He faced an election last year against his old adversary Ken Livingstone, which he narrowly won, and then gained the reflected glory of both the Oly

AS THE 50th anniversary of the publication of the Beeching report on the UK’s rail network nears (it was originally published on 27 March, 1963), Robin McKie, science and technology editor at The Observer, was strongly critical of the impact that Beeching’s work had, and is still having, on modern Britain. “The railways that had helped Britain become an industrial power… were to be cut back brutally,” McKie began, describing the contents of Beeching’s report.

London’s transport commissioner Peter Hendy (pictured) has been knighted for services to transport and the community in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours. Howard Collins, London Underground’s chief operating officer, received an OBE for services to the London 2012 Games and London Underground. Professor Alan Woodwide, director, transport and road assessment centre at the University of Ulster received an OBE for services to highway engineering in Northern Ireland. Mel Mehmet,

Transport for London will launch a consultation next month on finally extending the Cycle Superhighways to Stratford and the Olympic Park, many months after a scheme was expected to have been delivered. The 2km scheme will feature innovative measures, including cycle lanes going behind bus stops so that cyclists don’t have to overtake buses in general traffic lanes. The London Borough of Newham, however, has yet to give consent to the Superhighways being coloured blue, as they are elsew

Atkins is expanding in the UK with a growing headcount as profitability rises, according to the consultancy’s half-year financial report. Atkins’ average headcount for the six months to September was up by over 300 staff compared to the same period last year, representing growth of 3.5%, as the company recruited across a number of business areas to increase its staff numbers to 9,449. The company expects the expansion and recruitment to continue. Atkins also reported a 14% increase

Ali Clabburn has been running liftshare.com, probably the UK’s best-known car sharing facilitator, since 1997, and now heads a company with over 20 full-time employees. And now he is branching out by offering personalised travel planning services that include car sharing, but are by no means limited to it. The new product, called myPTP, is something that Clabburn has been thinking about for around eight years now, he says, but has only really come together as a viable business opportunity

An invitation to contribute to New Transit from my perspective as an information and systems design specialist came just as Britain’s transport network was being put to a significant test in the form of handling the intensive movement needs of the Olympics. It was a perfect showcase for a whole range of issues affecting transport in the new digital information era - and the implications for those who run the system, and travel on it. So I can’t resist the opportunity to look at the

Over 13,000 people flocked to an NCP in Shoreditch, east London, last month to see an exhibition of BMWs painted by artists such as Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and David Hockney. The event at the Great Eastern multi-storey formed part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

The latest accessibility data from the DfT tells us that the average minimum travel time to the seven key services analysed (employment, primary school, secondary school, further education, GP, hospital, food store) was 14 minutes by public transport/walking, nine minutes by cycling and six minutes by car. These times were 33 seconds longer than in 2010 for public transport/waking and around 12 seconds longer than in 2010 for both cycling and by car. As in previous years, the statistics tell us

Passenger numbers on the London Underground and Docklands Light Railway broke records during the Olympic Games, Transport for London said this week. Over 60 million Tube journeys were made – 30% up on normal levels and the DLR carried over six million journeys – up over 100% on normal levels. The transport arrangements for the Games were widely praised, with few reported problems. With the Games ending last weekend, the capital’s transport system has been returning to normal. T

The tragic death of a cyclist, killed by a bus transporting journalists to one of the Olympic venues during the 2012 London Games, generated a brief but intense debate in the media on the merits, or otherwise, of cycling helmets. This debate was, however, prompted not so much by the death itself but by off-the-cuff remarks made by Olympic gold medal cyclist Bradley Wiggins. “The death… prompted a call from gold medal-winner Bradley Wiggins for all bike riders to wear helmets and la

In the run up to the start of the Olympic Games the media frequently, and often gleefully, predicted transport chaos once the Games actually got up and running. “With the Olympics only four days away, London’s transport network was already creaking under the pressure, with drivers facing lengthy delays and Tube services disrupted,” The Daily Telegraph said on 24 July, for example. The paper’s story, moreover, prominently featured a picture of sprinter Usain Bolt on board

Transport for London said that road and transport networks had worked well on the first working day of the Olympic Games as people changed their travel behaviour. Commuters had followed its advice, TfL said, with early figures showing road journeys in central and inner London down by 20% and parts of the public transport network predicted to be exceptionally busy had been avoided. During the Games, up to one million extra visitors are expected in London every day, making an additional three mil

The Olympic Games Lanes restrictions have increased congestion in London compared to a normal school holiday weekday but there are some indicators of drivers altering their journeys, according to traffic analysts Inrix. Inrix released data collected on the first day that some of the Games Lanes were enforced showing that traffic travelling from Heathrow to Hammersmith was taking twice as long than normal with peak period delays of more than an hour. However, delays on a number of arterial rout

London’s Olympic Route Network (ORN), which links Games venues, accommodation and transport hubs, opened this morning. Enforcement of the 109-mile network includes no stopping or loading, as well as a number of temporary changes to junctions and road layouts, such as banned turns. Cars parking along the ORN will be removed and a £200 release fee charged. The ORN’s most controversial aspect is 30 miles of ‘Games Lanes’ which are open only to accredited vehicles carrying athletes, Games officials

The new cable car across the Thames in East London has joined the capital’s transport system in time for the Olympics. The five-minute 1km trip, costing £3.20 with an Oyster card, links the Greenwich Peninsula to Docklands. Supplied by Doppelmayr, it was built by Mace working with Watson Steel, URS Scott Wilson, lead consultant; Buro Happold, structural engineer: and architects Aedas and Wilkinson Eyre. Officially opened by Mayor Boris Johnson, the cable car connects two Olympic ven

TfL has started installing ‘Olympic Rings’ lane markings on the 30 miles of Games lanes that form part of the 109-mile Olympic Route Network. Adjustments to over 1,300 traffic signal timings have also begun to be made using a new version of SCOOT, SCOOT Gold. Transport commissioner Peter Hendy said SCOOT Gold allowed a maximum level of vehicle saturation to be specified on a link or series of links to enhance journey time reliability. This would have legacy benefits once the Olympics

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed the Mayor of London’s decision not to increase parking fines from £130 to £200 during this summer’s Olympic Games. The Olympics and Paralympics are likely to see commercial vehicle operators attract more penalty charge notices (PCNs) due to road restrictions. Natalie Chapman, FTA head of policy for London, said: “A higher PCN level would have penalised those companies who unfairly attract PCNs in the course of

Peter Hendy, head of Transport for London, is on a barnstorming mission to make the Games, and what happens after, a transport success. TfL is doing some excellent work aimed at encouraging the substantial change in travel necessary both for the Games to function efficiently themselves, and for London to function efficiently during them. The big question is about ‘what happens after’. Casting my thoughts in the form of a SWOT: The strengths are that there is a terrific m

Six months away from the start of the Olympic Games in London, concerns remain at the ability of the transport system to perform at the required world leading level. A huge effort has been made by London to take the opportunity of the Games to showcase both the city and its transport system, with an emphasis on providing public transport services that cover the vast majority of the needs of participants and visitors. However, there are doubts – including amongst professionals involved

Westminster City Council has delayed introducing evening and Sunday afternoon on-street parking charges in the West End until after the Olympics. The council had been due to implement the controversial charges this month. News of the delay came as the High Court granted a Judicial Review application into the council’s plans.  The JR is expected to take place in March but Westminster says that, even if it wins the case, it will delay introducing charges until after the Olympics.

On 24 October, Brian Dorling, 58, was killed whilst cycling eastbound along Barclays Cycle Superhighway (CSH) 2 at Bow roundabout, East London, adjacent to the Olympic park site. On 11 November, Svitlana Tereschenko, 34, was killed cycling on the same roundabout though travelling westbound. Both were hit by left-turning lorries as they attempted to head straight on. On 22 November the Mayor of London met the deceased’s families and announced a Transport for London investigation into HGV s

A spate of cyclist fatalities in London has prompted Boris Johnson to order a review of cycle safety at every junction of the Cycle Superhighways network and every major planned road scheme on the Transport for London road network. TfL is also to commission an independent review of the design, operation and driving of construction industry vehicles in London, which have been involved in a number of the crashes that have killed 15 cyclists this year. Last year there were ten  cyclist fatali

London Councils is consulting on possible increases to parking penalties and related charges during the Olympic Games. These proposals are designed to provide protection to local residents and businesses that may be adversely affected by increased demand for road space during the Games. Any changes to parking penalties, and/or to the charges for release from pound and vehicle storage, would apply only during the Games period – from 27 July 2012 to 12 September 2012 inclusive. London Coun

Not everybody is as delighted by the idea of London being the host of next year’s Olympic Games as the orthodox rictus enthusiasm, but many people are, and there is every reason to expect that there will be a fine display of sport and maybe even a ‘legacy’. Certainly I am personally already benefiting hugely from the opening of the new London Overground line in East London, whose funding was (cleverly) part of the Olympic package and whose north-south orientation will remain re

Mott MacDonald has been working with Transport for London (TfL) to develop the cable car that will run across the River Thames connecting Greenwich and the Royal Victoria Docks. The consultancy’s role involved specialist engineering support on route options, building services, utilities and design coordination. It also managed ground investigations, carried out an environmental impact assessment and acted as TfL’s technical advisor during procurement of the design and build contrac

Getting the transport arrangements right remains one of the biggest obstacles to the smooth running of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, according to the London Assembly’s transport committee. A new report from the committee, Clearing the Hurdles, identifies a number of key concerns about transport during the Games, particularly about the amount of extra transport capacity that will be required, the resilience of the Olympic Route Network and the apparent need for many people to change the

In preparation for the Olympics, BTP has recruited two Malinois (Belgian Shepherd dogs) to its Explosives Search Dog (ESD) section. Their arrival brings to eight the number of passive detection dogs. This will increase to 10 by the time of the Games. The dogs can work in a static position or on the move as they pass through crowds, to monitor the environment and luggage as well as detecting a wide range of explosives. Their effectiveness was tested in trials carried out in 2006 with the Departme

A unique policing environment, the transport system has a unique set of needs. To meet them, an independent body, British Transport Police (BTP), monitors the tracks, trains and stations, and provides a vital service to rail and other operators, their staff and passengers in making the system secure and safe. Chief Constable Andy Trotter has been at its helm for for the past 18 months, and for five years prior to that was BTP’s Deputy Chief. “We are a normal police force now operati

Why is he on the list? London mayor Boris Johnson has described Ranger, a former transport consultant, as his “transport brain”. What kind of year has he had? Ranger left his job as a transport consultant to join Team Boris in May 2008. Transport is one of the key areas that the mayor of London has influence over and Ranger is at the heart of it - both as a frontman for the media or a behind the scenes fixer. What’s coming up in 2011? Ongoing industrial disputes, the e

Transport for London has submitted a planning application for its proposed cross-Thames cable car between North Greenwich and Docklands in East London.  The application has been submitted to the London boroughs of Newham and Greenwich and the London Gateway Development Corporation. It proposes: The erection of a cable car for a length of 1.1km over the River Thames from the North Woolwich peninsula to the Royal Victoria Dock at a minimum clearance of 54.1 metre above mean high wate

Rail infrastructure operator Network Rail has announced that David Higgins, the current chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, has been named as its new chief executive. Higgins will assume his new role in February following the decision by Iain Coucher to step down from Network Rail at the end of October. Before joining the ODA in 2006, Higgins was the chief executive of Lend Lease, an international property and construction company from 1995 to 2002 before joining English Partner

In less than two years’ time, 14,700 of the world’s best athletes will compete for sport’s highest accolades at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Everybody knows the famous faces - such as Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps and Sir Chris Hoy - who will compete in the new stadia. But few understand the sheer size, scale and complexity of the Games. Those athletes will need transporting to and from over 90 official venues, spread all over London and beyond. Around 20,000

In 2006, a year after London was announced as the host city for the 2012 Olympics, Hugh Sumner was formally installed as the ODA’s £288,000 a year transport director. It is the culmination of a career which has been spent managing and planning the capital’s public transport systems and began straight after attaining an MBA from Cranfield. At that time London Transport used to recruit several MBA graduates each year. They told Sumner: “We’ll allow you to do insane th

The UK’s first urban cable car system could be operating in time for the London Olympics. Transport for London has published plans for a cable car link over the river Thames between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. It would link two of the major Games venues, the O2 and the Excel. The cable car could provide a crossing every 30 seconds carrying up to 2,500 passengers per hour in each direction, equivalent to the capacity of 50 buses per hour, and is expected to cost £25

According to the Olympic Delivery Authority, the 2012 Games in London represent the biggest logistical challenge that the country has faced in peace time. The scale of the operation is vast. Throughout the 16 days of competition, the capital’s transport system will have to cater for an average of 500,000 spectators a day, plus 140,000 games workers and volunteers and 55,000 members of the Olympic family, including athletes, officials and media. The Olympic Park is the centre of the action

Transport for London this week unveiled plans for a privately funded cable car to improve transport links across the Thames in East London. The cable car would provide a new river crossing for pedestrians and cyclists between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. London transport commissioner Peter Hendy said the cable car was an integral part of the mayor’s plans to provide additional river crossings east of Tower Bridge. He emphasised that plans for new road crossings were still

First has announced a management reshuffle at its UK bus business. The changes will see First Manchester managing director  Andy Scholey seconded to assist with the group’s response to the current Competition Commission inquiry. He will also be tasked with helping to plan the group’s bus provision for spectators at the 2012 London Olympics. Replacing Scholey in Manchester will be Richard Soper, the current managing director of First’s bus operations in Hampshire and Dors

Firstgroup has beat off competition from over 78 operators to land a major contract from the Olympic Delivery Authority to operate and co-ordinate bus and coach services as part of the 2012 Olympic Games. The ODA expects that for journeys to the Olympic Park, around 10% of spectators will use direct coach services, with a further 11% likely to use park and ride services. FirstGroup will be tasked with managing much of this activity, including the operation of 500 buses and coaches for venue shu

Following a competitive tender process, the Olympic Delivery Authority today confirmed that Aberdeen-based First Group has been named as the preferred bidder to provide hundreds of buses and coaches to transport spectators during the London 2012 Games. The ODA expects that for journeys to the Olympic Park, around 10% of spectators will use direct coach services, with a further 11% likely to use park and ride services. The contractor will provide: Around 500 buses and coaches for venue s

Terry Wogan, Tom Baker and Ozzy Osbourne will all be presenting the British Parking Awards 2010, yet only one person will be in the spotlight. Leading impressionist Jon Culshaw will host the gala lunch which takes place on 12 March at the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane in London’s Mayfair. The awards, organised by Parking Review, have showcased and recognised excellence in the UK parking sector for the past nine years. The awards are sponsored by civil enforcement agent Equita and su

The Olympic Development Authority's plan for a coach network to transport spectators to London 2012 Games venues has come in for criticism in a paper to the South East England's regional transport board. The Olympic Delivery Authority’s 224-page draft second transport plan published last month includes proposals for three types of coach service to serve the Olympic Park at Stratford: longer distance routes from places typically two-and-a-half hours from the Olympic Park; services from eas

The first new Docklands Light Railway carriage part-funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority has been delivered to Stratford station. The ODA and Transport for London contributed £20m each for 22 new carriages in preparation for increased DLR services during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Prior to the Games, the carriages will be used to help form the three-car trains that DLR will introduce from early 2010. The carriages will also be used to aid capacity on DLR’s mo

Kulveer Ranger has earned some interesting accolades over the past year. First, London mayor Boris Johnson has described him as his “transport brain”. After that society magazine Tatler featured the 34-year-old among 10 young Tories bound for greatness - tipping him as a future secretary of state for transport. Why not? Ranger has already had a successful career as a transport consultant, working on a range of major projects, and has served as vice chairman of the Conservative Party

The Olympic Delivery?Authority last month reached another major milestone in getting London ready for the 2012 Olympic Games. The 1,600 tonne Town Centre Link Bridge was successfully pushed over 11 live railway lines at Stratford Station. Both before the Games and in legacy, the structure it will provide a vital link from the existing town centre to Westfield’s £1.45bn Stratford City project that will play host to the Olympic Park. “This project took a great deal of planning a

A number of park & ride sites are planned to serve the 2012 London Olympics, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced. Previously the ODA had planned to build just two huge temporary sites close to the M25. An ODA spokeswoman said: “At the time of the bid we envisaged a couple of large park & ride sites serving the Olympic Park. Subsequent analysis shows that we can provide a better level of service to customers and a more cost effective provision by using a greater num

Transport for London is funding an extension of Tower Pier to relieve congestion caused by increasing numbers of riverboat passengers. It follows the signing of a concordat, led by London mayor Boris Johnson, between TfL, pier owners, boat operators, London boroughs that front the Thames and others to improve river services by improving ticketing, piers and passenger information. Riverboat operator Thames Clipper now runs a direct service between Canary Wharf and London Bridge and from November

The modelling of the potential climate change impacts of transport decisions is becoming an ever-more important topic, says Chris Ferrary, an associate at consultant Steer Davies Gleave. “It all started about two years ago or so,” he explains. “Climate change was in the news constantly, Al Gore’s film had just come out and clients started to ask us questions about the carbon impacts of what they were doing, such as ‘should we do a travel plan or introduce pool cars

It is an important year for GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for passenger transport. This year it will discover whether the government intends to renew its license, which expires in November. The process has now begun and GoSkills must show that it is succeeding in its mission to work with employers UK-wide to improve the skills that make a difference to the performance of the passenger transport sector. GoSkills chairman Nick Mitchell believes that its time for the SSC to raise its p

The routes: Elevated Greenway – this follows the route of the northern outfall sewer east from the Olympic Park to Beckton. Lea Valley North – this links to the north of the Olympic Park through the Lee Valley Regional Park. Greenwich – this follows the route of the Thames Path connecting Maritime Greenwich with the North Greenwich Peninsula and Woolwich. Limehouse Cut – this links Limehouse Basin to the Olympic Park via the Limehouse Cut. H

Preparatory work has started on a £326m upgrade of the London Overground network that, when completed, will see longer trains introduced, more frequent and more reliable services running and stations upgraded. The Overground network comprises: the Stratford to Richmond line; the Gospel Oak to Barking line; the Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction line; and the Euston to Watford line. The start of the work has been fast-tracked to ensure that it is completed by 2012 to provide access to t

Transport minister Andrew Adonis heralded the one year countdown to the introduction of high speed passenger services by Southeastern last week. Travelling at speeds of 225 kmph, the 29 class 395 trains - dubbed Javelins -  will enter service in December 2009 on High Speed One. They will offer express services between Ashford, the Kent Coast and St Pancras in central London. The service will be suspended for the duration of the  2012 Olympic Games to allow a high speed shuttle servic

The Olympic Delivery Authority has unveiled images of Stratford (regional) station as it will look on completion in 2010 following its upgrade. The ODA is carrying out work to treble the station’s capacity to enable it to handle spectators for the 2012 Olympics. It will have a new station entrance, nine new lifts and existing platforms widened and/or lengthened and new platforms. Work underway includes: new canopies for platforms 3, 5, 6, and 8; a new lift and stairs to the inter-platform

London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced £168.3m of funding to deliver local transport improvements for London’s boroughs. The package is designed to provide boroughs with greater freedom in delivering transport projects, through a £100,000 award for each borough to spend on initiatives of its choice. Major projects being funded by TfL next year include assessment and strengthening of Albert Bridge, improved pedestrian access to Clapham Junction station, installation of 22 el

Most of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) set up by ITS-UK, the UK’s Intelligent Transport Society, have a familiar ‘techie’ sound to them – ‘Automotive User’, ‘Passenger Information’ and ‘Road User Charging’, for example. But the times they appear to be a-changing, because some of the new SIGs set up by the society have decidedly non-technical names. Take ‘Women in ITS’, for example, a new group set to have its inaugural m

I finished writing this article - extolling the society benefits of free local bus travel for all.  It was to highlight the massive wins for the environment and social cohesion, and balance them against both the loss of commercial freedom currently enjoyed by bus operators, and the loss of freedom to unduly fiddle with the market by local authorities using their new-found freedoms under the Local Transport Bill. I was arguing that free travel would provide very real checks and balances on t

A specially constructed Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 bus took centre-stage at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics last Sunday that marked the handover of the Olympic flag to the city of London. Transit understands that the vehicle was constructed in conditions of upmost secrecy  by ADL in Scotland before being converted by a specialist firm in Leeds. During the show the bus ‘unwrapped’ to reveal a model of London landmarks and hydraulic platforms from which singer

The potential for digital maps to play a vital role in the development of a number of innovative transport applications is huge, according to Roger Payne, DMO (digital mapping operations) manager at Navteq, one of the leading digital mapping data suppliers. For example, whilst used primarily in in-car satellite navigation systems at present, Payne points out that his company's data is increasingly being used in such things as hand-held navigation equipment for pedestrians; that specialist map d

National Express Group’s bid for an extension to its c2c franchise is focussing on increasing all peak services to 12-cars from December 2010. The company initially had its bid turned down by the Department for Transport on the grounds of value for money, but, after two days of frantic negotiations, was given permission to re-submit its application (Transit July 18). NEG’s plans are based on the cascade of 40 class 321 carriages from London Midland, in line with the DfT’

The chamber of City Hall was the place to be at the end of June for anyone wanting to understand how Boris Johnson's election to London mayor will change the direction of transport policy in the capital. Within the space of a few hours, Johnson's three big hitters on transport - Tim Parker, Kulveer Ranger and Peter Hendy - gave evidence to the London Assembly. And, although it is early days for the new Conservative administration, the three men's evidence gave some tantalising insights into how

On 23 October The Times devoted no less than three full pages, including its front page, to the publication of the transport plan for the 2012 Olympic Games. "Olympic chiefs set to ban all car travel," was its front page headline, above a story that began: "The team organising the London Olympics in 2012 is adopting the most aggressive anti-car policy ever applied to a major event in an attempt to deliver a permanent shift in people's travel habits... The plan discloses that the O

Organisers of the 2012 Olympics have warned that no parking will be available around the main venues with the exception of some spaces for Blue Badge holders.This underpins the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) aim to encourage all spectators to travel to the Games by public transport, walking and cycling. The Olympic transport plan, published last month, outlines a host of projects including new trains, rail lines, enhanced stations, river works and new walking and cyc

Ambitious plans to make the 2012 London Olympics virtually "car free" for spectators at all the venues were published this week by the Olympic Delivery Authority. Underpinning London 2012's transport strategy is an ambition to host a 'public transport' Games, the plan says. "The aim is for 100% of ticketed spectators to travel to the Games by public transport, or by walking or cycling," it explains. "There will be no private car parking for spectators at any venue excep

the department for Transport has been urged to ensure that smartcard ticketing is introduced across the entire UK rail network in time for the 2012 Olympic Games. Jeremy Acklam, an expert in new ticketing solutions and business development director for online retailer TheTrainline, warned that if action was not taken soon the government risked missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity. Speaking at last week’s Transit-sponsored Public Transport Mobile Generation conference in Bi

The American boss of London Underground, the publicly-owned operator of the world’s oldest metro, strides purposively into the room and introduces himself with a firm handshake. Dapper in a sharp navy suit, neatly folded breast pocket handkerchief, and an expensive-looking silk tie, Tim O’Toole could easily pass for a commercial attorney, the job he did for most of the 1980s. Only a pair of distinctive London Underground cufflinks gives the game away. O’Toole, 52, was ap

The first of six new Class 395 high speed trains due to come into service with Southeastern in December 2009, has been constructed at Hitachi’s factories in Japan and is currently undergoing testing. Dubbed ‘Javelins’, the high speed trains will operate under Southeastern on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link High Speed 1 line between Ashford and London St Pancras international, where they will be capable of travelling at 186 mph. They will also be used for a high-speed shuttle

To achieve its aim of reducing CO2 emissions from Games-related travel the Olympic Transport Strategy states: * 80% of visitors and staff will use rail services to reach the Olympic Park * Eurostar services will be promoted to encourage the use of rail rather than air travel from continental Europe to reach Olympic venues * low/no emission vehicles will be used throughout the Olympic fleet of cars, buses and service vehicles * no private car access will be allowed to any Olympic venue except

Transport infrastructure for the Olympic Park includes a 'transportation zone' - a 60-stand area where shuttle buses will transport competitors to venues within the Olympic Park and other venues. Parking areas for officials and contractors will total 1,400 spaces. An off-site holding area outside the Olympic Village will be provided for 500 buses. Two spectator transport malls will serve the Olympic Park: the Northern Mall will be located to the north of the Park, adjacent to Spitalfields Market

The Olympic Delivery Authority last week submitted three planning applications for the construction of the infrastructure and venues for the Olympic Park as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The applications, which include the proposed legacy uses for the site after the Games finish and cover 246 hectares of land next to Stratford town centre, have been submited to the ODA's planning decisions team. They include the construction of 11km of roads including a loop road ar

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON’S plans for a new bus garage in West London have been dealt a fatal blow with the news that planning permission for the planned facility in North Action has again been turned down on appeal by Ealing Borough Council. It follows the rejection of original plans for the site last year by the planning committee. In his written verdict, planning inspector David Cullingford said that the garage, on land owned by TfL adjacent to the A40 in West London, went against plans t

Transport for London's board last week approved plans for a £9.4bn (real terms) investment programme to improve the capital's transport infrastructure over the next five years, 2005/06 to 2009/10. The business plan, which covers operational funding for the existing network as well as investment, indicates a significant shift in policy direction by London mayor Ken Livingstone. Whereas his first four-year term was symbolised by bus fare freezes and a dramatic increase in bus service mileag

The Olympic Delivery Authority has appointed Hugh Sumner as its director of transport, responsible for delivering transport infrastructure and services for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sumner has led on transport for London's bid since its genesis in 2003 and has been acting director since July 2005. Before that time he was managing director of one of the Infracos upgrading the Tube and director of passenger services at London Underground. Sumner is one of several recent senio

Legislation to create an Olympic Transport Authority will now be brought forward by the Government after London dramatically clinched the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The authority, a key part of the Olympic transport plan, will be responsible for organising and delivering all Olympic transport infrastructure projects as well as overall transport management in the immediate run-up to the games. The transportation budget for the games is estimated at £695m at 2004 prices and will i

Your item on Crossrail and the Olympic transport projects ('Industry reassures ministers on Crossrail delivery' LTT 4 Aug) suggested that a conflict might emerge between their construction. Can anyone regard the continual slippage of Crossrail as anything other than amazing? A project strongly recommended in 1989 may now be built by 2015 but only with a fair wind. This may be as much a tragedy for the Olympic Games as for Crossrail. Certainly winning the Olympic Games for 2012 is fantastic news

Just over 12 months ago London's chances of hosting the 2012 Olympic Games looked bleak, with transport a key area where the city's bid was perceived to be weak (LTT 20 May 04). And yet London's bid won, with the International Olympic Committee's evaluation commission expressing a high degree of confidence that the city's transport infrastructure and services could be brought up to speed in time for the 2012 Games - so what happened in the intervening months? The infrastructure and transport con