London commuters 'should travel differently during Games'

Date: 3/8/2011

An additional three million trips are expected to be made on the London public transport network on August 3rd next year, according to predictions.

This is because the date marks the start of the track and field events of the Olympic Games, which will prompt a rise in passenger numbers on top of the usual 12 million journeys made on the system during a typical working day in the capital.

To cope with the surge in demand, Transport Minister Norman Baker is urging employees and businesses working and operating in the capital to begin planning alternative arrangements for their travel.

Speaking at a BT event, he suggested: "It's time to oil the creaking bike, dig out the walking boots, work out how to use the video conferencing equipment and fire up the laptop gathering dust at the back of the cupboard."

As the self-proclaimed first Transport Minister to have "official responsibility" for alternative travel methods, he added that his Department will be taking its own advice and attempting to cut in half the number of journeys it takes during the Games.

Ahead of the Olympics, £6.5 billion will be invested in either expanding or upgrading existing transport links in the city and across the country.

This includes running additional trains on the Victoria Line throughout the event, taking the number of vehicles up to 30 an hour.

Posted by Nick Anderson