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Monday 23 Jul 2012

CHANGES TO LONDON BRIDGE STATION TO MAKE GAMES-TIME TRAVEL EASIER FOR PASSENGERS

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Network Rail has updated its plans for how London Bridge station will operate during the Olympic and Paralympic Games following a successful live rehearsal on 10 July. The changes are based on passenger feedback and a full review with transport partners, including train operators and London Underground.

The key changes are:

• More than 140 extra staff at the station during the Games period, including station experts and many of Network Rail's 600+ travel champions
• Eleven extra customer information screens feeding live information from the Olympic transport co-ordination centre. More than 300 screens have been installed across Network Rail’s London stations ahead of the Games
• An additional 140 prominent signs, many in elevated positions, helping both commuters and Games spectators use the station when crowd management systems are in operation
• Ten new goal post style signs to direct passengers to platforms

Robin Gisby, Network Rail managing director of network operations, said: "I’d like to thank passengers for taking part in the rehearsal at London Bridge recently and for their invaluable feedback, which we’ve used to update and improve our plans for the Games.

"The extra staff, signage and information that we have committed to provide will be crucial to keeping the station working at busy times – but it will still be a massive challenge given the huge numbers of additional passengers expected at London Bridge. Our advice remains for people to avoid the station if they can during the Games and to check GetAheadoftheGames.com for up-to-the-minute travel advice."

People are advised to avoid London Bridge station if at all possible during the Games. Day three of the Games (Monday 30 July) is expected to be the busiest for London Bridge, with an additional 69,000 people – including 50,000 spectators travelling to and from an equestrian event at Greenwich – using the station.

The start and finish times of the event mean spectators will be travelling against the usual flow of commuters. (ie they will be travelling out of central London to Greenwich during the morning peak and back in during the evening peak). As a result, passengers will not be able to board trains from platforms 1-6 at London Bridge station between 6-10pm that evening and are advised to use alternative stations, such as Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Blackfriars to board their trains.

Network Rail is distributing 30,000 leaflets to passengers at London Bridge this week as part of an ongoing campaign. The company is also contacting all businesses in the London Bridge areas, including PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals, urging staff to plan their journeys carefully during the Games. Transport for London will also be contacting London Bridge Underground station users by email and social media channels such as @GAOTG on Twitter.