~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~15~RS~)
Tom Edwards
Transport correspondent, London
Pressure is on for train companies during Olympics
The train companies say 4,000 extra trains will operate during the Olympics
The train companies are under a lot of pressure to deliver a decent service during the Olympic Games.
Not least because during the Jubilee they badly underestimated the number of extra passengers and only put on an enhanced Sunday service.
They were eventually hauled in front of London Mayor Boris Johnson to give him assurances.
I've been contacted by quite a few Olympic volunteers and transport workers who have concerns about how they're going to get to the Games early and return late at night.
The train companies will hold trains if an event overruns and they are putting on an extra 4,000 services during the Games.
But there are no extra late night services to all stations and many in London have none after midnight at all.
Balancing actYou will have to keep a close eye on timetables coming out over the next few weeks to see if more services are scheduled.
Of course, trains can't run 24 hours a day and the companies don't want to run empty trains.
It is a tricky balancing act.
Another interesting point is that after the debacle of the Jubilee I tried, on a number of occasions, to get the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) to do an interview.
They declined.
On Tuesday, when I approached them they declined again.
Isn't it the whole point of an umbrella organisation to speak on behalf of the operators, especially when the allegation is they are not prepared for the Olympics?
Let me know if you have a surprise when you look at your train timetables.
Will the train companies cope?
Afghan Taliban attack central Kabul
Tweets of the week
Life span
Dead zone
Watch out!
Art over politics
Click
Comment number 10.
Joel Kosminsky10th July 2012 - 10:21
Only LB Tower Hamlets tells me, indirectly via a planning application, that Overground westbound trains won't call at Hackney Wick. This wasn't on the 'Hackney' leaflet TfL left in my letterbox. Any more local alterations we still don't know about? I'm a former planner and operations worker - the system will not cope and the level of intelligible information is appalling.
Link to this (Comment number 10)
Comment number 9.
Blueboy2275th July 2012 - 21:58
I am sorry, as I am going to add to the preasure of the transport system as I am going to a couple of events. However my main concern is the early morning arrival at Stratford for the hockey. As I will be coming into from Crawley, However I do not support the comments of poster 6. I thought the government said "we were all in this together?" Lol Still can't wait for the games though.
Link to this (Comment number 9)
Comment number 8.
eltel5th July 2012 - 14:05
I don't believe anyone in London who uses public transport believes it is going to cope. I don't even believe TFL think it will, given their ever increasing estimated delay times. They are just sticking to the propaganda that "all will be fine", although they do tend to add "if commuters change their travel times" in a whisper to the end of statements.
The same goes for the road system.
Link to this (Comment number 8)
Comment number 7.
Islander4th July 2012 - 23:31
I am staggered by the poster who thinks Olympic volunteers should get priority treatment on public transport. They should, and will, take their turn in the queue like the rest of us who have to struggle to work while the circus is in town.
Link to this (Comment number 7)
Comment number 6.
GodAtum4th July 2012 - 16:15
I also hope volunteers get priority to get on trains over visitors and commuters especially at London Bridge. I'm certainly not going to wait in a queue!
Link to this (Comment number 6)
Comments 5 of 10