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Friday 22 Apr 2005

NETWORK RAIL BACKS THE BID – COUNTDOWN TO OLYMPIC D-DAY STARTS

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National

Network Rail has signalled its backing for the London 2012 Olympic bid as the countdown begins to the International Olympic Committee’s decision in Singapore. Just 75 days remain until the world knows whether London has earned the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Today, in support of the bid a countdown clock showing the remaining days, hours, minutes and seconds to the IOC’s decision will be displayed on Network Rail’s ‘Transvision’ advertising screens at its managed London stations. Passengers using London’s rail stations will be left in no doubt of Network Rail’s backing for the bid with seven of the major London passenger gateways being extensively branded with ‘Back the Bid’ livery. Network Rail’s promotional activity – valued at around £500,000 – includes:

• London 2012 branded banners, posters and stickers at: Charing Cross, Euston, Gatwick Airport, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Paddington and Waterloo
• London 2012 promotional film has been showing once every eight minutes on the huge screens at the stations
• Leaflets giving passengers information about the bid

  Network Rail has been working closely with the bid committee to develop infrastructure plans to support hundreds of thousands of spectators, athletes and officials throughout the games and leave a lasting benefit for the city. Regardless of the bid’s success development of the stations at King’s Cross and Stratford will help improve capacity, reliability and the whole travelling experience into, across and out of London. London 2012 bid chairman Sebastian Coe, said: ‘We are very grateful for the support of Network Rail for their very visible backing of our Bid.  The branding at these key London stations help spread our message and demonstrate that we will be proud to host the 2012 Games.  We have now passed the one million official registered supporter mark and I urge everyone to get behind us in the final few months of our campaign before the decision is made on 6 July.  We are committed to delivering fast, frequent and reliable transport for the 2012 Games and this will be one of many benefits of hosting the world's greatest sporting event."  Network Rail’s Chief Executive, John Armitt, said: ‘We are proud to back the bid. Hosting the Olympics will bring wider sporting, social and economic benefits and prestige to Britain. Delivering the infrastructure to support the games will have a positive knock-on effect for Britain’s railway.’