Is Travel during the Olympics Going to be a Nightmare?

[Peckham native]

Bic Basher Wrote:

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> On Tuesday, London Bridge did a test run of their

> Olympic policy, this included sending passengers

> from the Southern platforms via the main entrance,

> Borough High Street and Tooley Street to get to

> the tube station instead of the escalator straight

> there.

>

> According to my boss, it took 30 mins to do this

> in the morning peak. I dread to think what it'll

> be during the games.

On the test run day it was if fact easier to get to the Jubilee Line/Tooley Street if coming in on a Southern Service (Peckham Rye/East Dulwich platforms 15/16). The escalators were in use and barriers funneled people to either the Jubilee Line or Tooley Street. There was no entrance allowed at Tooley Street or exit from the South Eastern lines so didn't have to compete with the South Eastern hoards crossing to the Jubilee Line.

Going home was more of a problem as had to walk round to the new main entrance instead of using the Tooley Street entrance.

South Eastern commuters look like they'll have a lot more problems!

[Jeremy]

Can somebody explain why London Bridge (national rail) is going to be busy? Are we expecting athletes/tourists/officials/etc to be staying in SE London, Croydon, Kent, etc? Or are there venues in these areas?

[Huggers]

I'm going to a Greenwich event on sunday 29th that ends at 4.30 and a gig at the Hob in Forest Hill at 7.30. Am I being unrealistic in thinking I am going to get there on time without having a nervous breakdown? In non Olympic times this would be a 20 minute car journey. I am even thinking of parking in Telegraph Hill and bus-ing it. Is that idiotic?

[the-e-dealer]

Busing it? get a Train!

[catfood]

why stop at moaning about cyclists riding on pavements when you can also bang on tiresomely about them not stopping at red lights, always overtaking me, wearing lycra, not wearing helmets, not wearing a hi-viz jacket, not having enough lights, 'nearly' killing you while you were trying to cross the road and not paying bloody 'road tax'?

/as stated up-thread, riding in the olympic lanes will attract a PCN, which can only be issued by civil enforcement officer, so to all intents and purposes, you can ride your bike in LOCOG's Zil lanes with utter impunity. in the unlikely event that you are asked to stop, just refuse to supply any details to any fake bacon that asks for it - nod, smile and carry on your merry, and safe way.

[the-e-dealer]

Hear Hear confiscate the bikes!

[catfood]

also - barclays branded ken bikes are not allowed within a half mile radius of the olympic site as they havn't paid seb 'shuddering f_u_ckwit' coe and LOCOG millions of squids in sponsorship bungs, like Lloyds has.

[catfood]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

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> Hear Hear confiscate the bikes!

how? by whom? following what legal precedent?

[Bic Basher]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> Can somebody explain why London Bridge (national

> rail) is going to be busy? Are we expecting

> athletes/tourists/officials/etc to be staying in

> SE London, Croydon, Kent, etc? Or are there venues

> in these areas?

London Bridge will be a major interchange between venues. The tube station has the Jubilee line which will take spectators to the Olympic Park, Archery at Lords, Gymnastics at the O2 as well as events in Central London. The overground station will transport passengers to events at Greenwich and Woolwich.

GetAheadoftheGames.com also suggests Canada Water station will also be extremely busy.

[the-e-dealer]

Changing at Cannonbury is a cunning plan.

[Jeremy]

Bic Basher Wrote:

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> London Bridge will be a major interchange between

> venues. The tube station has the Jubilee line

> which will take spectators to the Olympic Park,

> Archery at Lords, Gymnastics at the O2 as well as

> events in Central London. The overground station

> will transport passengers to events at Greenwich

> and Woolwich.

I realise that the tube station will be busy as an interchange. But national rail? Horsey stuff in Greenwich and shooting in Woolwich - can't imagine either is exactly a huge draw! But I guess the organisers must know what they're talking about...

[Twirly]

Am pleased to say that my test run to Brixton on the 37 and thence to Green Park on the Victoria line went like a dream this morning, 45 mins bus stop to desk. Of course it might not be quite so smooth when everyone else is doing it, and will be a nightmare if the Victoria line is down, but then so is any journey when the train or tube line is out. In fact it was so easy (got a seat and everything!) it may become a favoured route.

[Bic Basher]

Twirly Wrote:

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> Am pleased to say that my test run to Brixton on

> the 37 and thence to Green Park on the Victoria

> line went like a dream this morning, 45 mins bus

> stop to desk. Of course it might not be quite so

> smooth when everyone else is doing it, and will be

> a nightmare if the Victoria line is down, but then

> so is any journey when the train or tube line is

> out. In fact it was so easy (got a seat and

> everything!) it may become a favoured route.

It helps that the 37 starts from Peckham and doesn't go anywhere near any Olympic sites. The P4 may be another option for other ED'ers.

[Bic Basher]

Had another look at getaheadofthegames.com which has detailed information about London Bridge.

On Mon 30th July, Platform's 1-6 will be shut from 6pm-10pm, the one way system will be in operation at various times and they suggest not to use LB as an interchange throughout the period.

[Undisputedtruth]

Applespider Wrote:

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> Undisputedtruth Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > London Bridge station will be busy in the

> > afternoons and evenings as many of the Olympic

> > events are taking place in the afternoons.

> There

> > should be no problems during the mornings.

> > All information came from Vince

> > Lucas, Southeastern's director for service

> > delivery.

>

>

> That doesn't fill me with confidence. The majority

> of sports have a morning (8.30 - 10am starts) and

> an evening (from 6pm starts) sessions. The

> spectator instructions suggest arriving 60-90

> minutes pre-session which means people will be

> travelling during the morning rush.

Most of the morning sporting slots are either fringe sports or prelimnary rounds. I'm only repeating what a director of Southeastern said. It's up to you to choose what inspires confidence.

[lpool]

Not sure why Vince is saying mornings won't be a problem. I will be having words.

The thing to remember us that whilst many morning events are preliminary rounds they are still nearly all sold out so you can expect as many people going I events as later in the afternoon. Day 3 sees the cross-country at Greenwich. This is 55,000 ticketed spectators, many of whom will be travelling via Southeastern to Greenwich or Blackheath. This, combined with a Jubilee service that will be very busy with people going to the Park means you risk a grid-lock effect at London Bridge with no where for arrivals to go down onto the tube and several thousand wanting access to the main station concourse. As a regular user of Lindon Bridge I hate changes and the re-routing of passengers but having sat down with the plans with Network Rail's director in charge of planning for Games I can see the logic, no matter how crazy it might seem.

I will be based at Canary Wharf during the Games plus visiting all key transport locations, and I know that my biggest problem will be getting off Canary Wharf between 4pm and 7pm because the Jubilee Line will be so busy, even with the odd empty train planned to run from North Greenwich and Canary Wharf.

To the person thinking of parking at Telegraph Hill, I wish you luck! It could take a very long time to get out of the area. My advice would be go by train and head for Blackheath station afterwards as this is likely to be less busy than Greenwich. Dispersal of crowds after events in Greenwich Park is likely to be fairly slow with people hanging around the park or going into Greenwich so an early exit might not take as long queuing to get into the station.

[Magpie]

One of my colleagues at work who specialises in operational research suggested that the plans at London Bridge are about minimising the number of people in the station to prevent over-crowding - effectively they are pushing the crowds out of the station and will queue rail passengers into the station in the evenings. Mornings coming up from ED should be fine - unless of course, like this morning, there is a signal failure. I suspect evenings will also be ok - as the crunch platforms will be 1 - 6, and I suspect, as was the case after the jubilee pagent, people who want to get to platforms 12 - 16 will be able to get in reasonably easily as we will be funnelled off the right handside of the main exit.

I semi-jogged back from LB the other day and took me around 45mins so thats going to be my fall back plan

[BB100]

Damon Baird Wrote:

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> I'm quite involved in the transport system and

> planning of the Olympics (although I don't want to

> give too much away about how), so have a very good

> understanding of what is to come.

>

Hi Damon,

We are having a discussion about the problems of 2012 ticket collection over in the Lounge - please can you tell your people they need to do something about it.

[Bic Basher]

Magpie Wrote:

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> One of my colleagues at work who specialises in

> operational research suggested that the plans at

> London Bridge are about minimising the number of

> people in the station to prevent over-crowding -

> effectively they are pushing the crowds out of the

> station and will queue rail passengers into the

> station in the evenings. Mornings coming up from

> ED should be fine - unless of course, like this

> morning, there is a signal failure. I suspect

> evenings will also be ok - as the crunch platforms

> will be 1 - 6, and I suspect, as was the case

> after the jubilee pagent, people who want to get

> to platforms 12 - 16 will be able to get in

> reasonably easily as we will be funnelled off the

> right handside of the main exit.

>

> I semi-jogged back from LB the other day and took

> me around 45mins so thats going to be my fall back

> plan

I think the real issue for ED morning commuters is the transfer to the tube station. Considering the main ticket hall will be rammed with spectators (just think of a normal morning peak day when LB tube is closed for short periods for overcrowding), the Get Ahead of the Games site suggests walking to Borough (9 mins walk) instead of using LB tube. If passengers work just across the river, it may be wise to simply walk across to Mounment/Bank instead of using the Northern line.

[Twirly]

Bic Basher - surely those who work in the City mostly already do that? I used to work up near Moorgate, and I'd never get the tube there. Used to get the bus up in the mornings (which I guess shouldn't be too much busier than normal, unless they've got specials lanes/diversions in place as in the West End?) and walk back in the evenings when I had a bit more time. By the time you've got down to the tube, waited for the Northern Line, got the tube and back up the other side, it's definitely quicker to walk/tube. Harder if you're going a bit further afield.

On a slight aside, who on earth chose cerise pink for all the signage? Yes, it stands out (which I guess is the point) but it's a trifle garish!

[Jeremy]

I work very close to Moorgate. If it's early enough (around 7:45) I can save about 5 minutes by getting the tube instead of walking. But there's not much difference.

[nimby]

It already is a nightmare. Sometimes the bus from Victoria to Trafalgar Square takes 15 minute others an hour. Trains Cancelled, delayed, or short (and therefore too full to get on)

[StraferJack]

"I work very close to Moorgate. If it's early enough (around 7:45) I can save about 5 minutes by getting the tube instead of walking. But there's not much difference."

A walk through the city at that hour is surely far preferable to faffing around tube tunnels, for the sake of (maybe) 5 mins? And when I used to work, ther my frame of mind was far better after walking than it was tubing it

All bets are off when it's puring down mind you

[Bic Basher]

Twirly Wrote:

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> Bic Basher - surely those who work in the City

> mostly already do that? I used to work up near

> Moorgate, and I'd never get the tube there.

You'd be surprised, I was a regular commuter on the Northern from LB and the amount of people who'd get on between LB and Bank was staggering. You also have to factor in people who change from the Jubilee.

[stacey-lyn]

ORN routes, Games Lanes, Olympic Flame road closures et al.

For those who have to drive for work and reluctantly we do, is this potentially a nightmare? Absolutely.

F.y.i., today's update E-mail from TFL:

Dear

I am writing to let you know that the final preparatory works on the Olympic Route Network (ORN) are underway this weekend, so London?s road network will look and feel very different by Monday morning.

The ORN and Games Lanes restrictions will be apply from 0600 Wednesday 25 July.

To watch a short video explaining how the ORN and Games Lanes work, please click here

Olympic Route Network (ORN) explained

The ORN is a road network linking Games venues and other key sites. Normal traffic can use most of the ORN, although there will be temporary changes such as suspended turns, stopping and loading restrictions and changes to traffic signal timings. Stopping or parking on the ORN will result in a ?130 penalty charge and your vehicle may be towed away.

Games Lanes

Some lanes on ORN roads will be reserved as Games Lanes and are for use by athletes, officials and the world?s media. The vast majority of Games Lanes are in outside lanes. In these cases, normal traffic can use the adjacent lane(s). Driving in a Games Lane will result in a ?130 penalty charge.

When you can use Games Lanes

Games Lanes will be very busy. They will be for the use of Games vehicles only from 0600?midnight. If Games Lanes are less busy, they will be switched off and electronic signs will indicate that normal traffic can use them.

Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Flame will be visiting every Borough in London this week. Roads will be temporarily closed before it arrives and will be exceptionally busy, particularly on Thursday 26 July.

Please do not drive to see the Torch and consider watching in your local area or close to your place of work. For more information, please visit getaheadofthegames.com

Yours sincerely,

Vernon Everitt

Managing Director, Marketing and Communications