Transport News from April 2007

The Olympic Delivery Authority’s Transport Plan for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games was published at the end of October.

Just before Christmas, the ODA met with the Kent Coordinating Group for the 2012 Games’ Transport sectoral task group, to talk through the strategy’s ambitions, and its implications for Kent. A draft Kent response to the strategy is currently being circulated (please contact darren.cook@kent.gov.uk 01622 221613 if you wish to see this), with the response deadline of February 2nd clearly in mind.

The final plan will be published in the summer of 2007, but it is anticipated it will be updated in 2009 (with any learning from the Beijing 2008 Games) and again in 2011.

The main implications for Kent are:

• Eurostar passengers will need to interchange at Ebbsfleet (planned to host between 6000 and 9000 spaces for an Olympic Park and Rail) and switch to a so-called Javelin train service to the Olympic Park. Ebbsfleet will continue to be used by Eurostar for non Games visitors too in this period.
• Afternoon/evening commuters will experience an impact for the 16 day period of the Olympic Games (27 July to 12 August) but the impact on morning commuters, or on any commuters during the period of the Paralympic Games (29 August to 9 September) is expected to be minimal or negligible.
• A possible Olympic Park and Ride may yet be situated in the county
• Having excellent transport links with the Games will provide opportunities around accommodation, paid and voluntary employment, the visitor economy, regeneration in North Kent, and events relating to the so-called Cultural Olympiad.