The transport network will have chance to catch its breath over the next few days after the curtain came down on London 2012.

The Olympics finished on Sunday (August 12) after more than two weeks of competition and traffic disruption around Games venues.

However, in less than a fortnight the Paralympics will take centre stage from Wednesday, August 29, to Sunday, September 9.
Games transport in and around the capital will this time be prioritised along the Paralympic Route Network (PRN).

It will come into effect on August 29 and will be removed completely one day after the end of the Paralympic Games on September 10.

A scaled-down version of the Olympic Route Network, the PRN will still provide access to the same London venues, as well as Weymouth and Eton Dorney. Fleets will also still face a fine of £130 if they stray on to the PRN during restricted times and are being urged to plan journeys with disruption in mind.

However, at the halfway stage, months of planning has paid off for Games organisers, transport chiefs and fleet operators as all report a successful first week of London 2012.

With those living and working in the capital heeding Transport for London’s (TfL) messages to change their travel plans for the Games, traffic levels on the capital’s roads have dropped by 17%.

Deliveries made ahead of schedule

Companies are reporting that deliveries are being made on time and in some cases ahead of schedule as extra journey time has been factored in to allow for the anticipated congestion.

Newly re-elected ACFO chairman Julie Jenner praised all of those involved in planning for the ‘greatest show on earth’.

She told Fleet News: “I think all the pre-work that TfL did around informing people of the impact of the Games, the excellent seminar organised by ACFO and all the various websites/maps/updates that were provided by TfL have worked.

“People have re-routed and re-organised their schedules and therefore the hideous congestion that some expected hasn’t happened. All in all I think so far it’s been a great success and something we should be proud of.”

Businesses have been employing a range of innovative measures in an attempt to ensure minimal disruption.

CitySprint swapped four wheels for two, increasing the motorbike and bicycle fleet to 150 and 85 respectively, but it has also been employing a team of five rollerbladers and 20 runners.

More on page two...