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| Olympic route network opens with some confusion but little congestion | Olympic route network opens with some confusion but little congestion |
| (9 months later) | |
| Gridlock on London's streets was averted as the controversial Olympic route network took effect on Wednesday morning with many motorists staying away. But congestion on some routes, and further problems on tube and train services, renewed worries about the capital's ability to cope. | Gridlock on London's streets was averted as the controversial Olympic route network took effect on Wednesday morning with many motorists staying away. But congestion on some routes, and further problems on tube and train services, renewed worries about the capital's ability to cope. |
| One potential hurdle disappeared when the PCS union said it was calling off a strike planned for Heathrow on Thursday, which had raised the spectre of long immigration queues at what was forecast to be the official Olympic airport's busiest ever day. | One potential hurdle disappeared when the PCS union said it was calling off a strike planned for Heathrow on Thursday, which had raised the spectre of long immigration queues at what was forecast to be the official Olympic airport's busiest ever day. |
| Transport authorities claimed there was a smooth start to the altered roads system, with few long delays, though the Games lanes, which are reserved for athletes, officials and media vehicles, were reported to be causing some confusion. | Transport authorities claimed there was a smooth start to the altered roads system, with few long delays, though the Games lanes, which are reserved for athletes, officials and media vehicles, were reported to be causing some confusion. |
| From 6am on Wednesday motorists also found parking bays suspended and junctions blocked over miles of the Olympic route network. Transport for London (TfL) admitted that there were queues during the morning rush hour on main roads approaching London, including the A4, A12, A13 and A40, although these were generally shorter than earlier in the week when drivers were delayed for up to 80 minutes. Tube services failed again including, by evening, severe delays across the underground's critical Olympic artery, the Jubilee line. The RMT union claimed it was already the worst week for breakdowns on the tube this year. In the morning rush there were severe delays and disruption. The Circle and Hammersmith and City lines were closed for a time, and there were delays on the Metropolitan line and the Central line east of Stratford. | From 6am on Wednesday motorists also found parking bays suspended and junctions blocked over miles of the Olympic route network. Transport for London (TfL) admitted that there were queues during the morning rush hour on main roads approaching London, including the A4, A12, A13 and A40, although these were generally shorter than earlier in the week when drivers were delayed for up to 80 minutes. Tube services failed again including, by evening, severe delays across the underground's critical Olympic artery, the Jubilee line. The RMT union claimed it was already the worst week for breakdowns on the tube this year. In the morning rush there were severe delays and disruption. The Circle and Hammersmith and City lines were closed for a time, and there were delays on the Metropolitan line and the Central line east of Stratford. |
| The Hammersmith and City line had just been cited by the Transport for London commissioner, Peter Hendy, as a key alternative route when other tube lines failed earlier in the week – as did the Central line during the dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony at the Olympic Park. | The Hammersmith and City line had just been cited by the Transport for London commissioner, Peter Hendy, as a key alternative route when other tube lines failed earlier in the week – as did the Central line during the dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony at the Olympic Park. |
| National rail services through Stratford again faced long delays and disruptions due to problems with overhead cables, a day after Greater Anglia announced it was too hot for its trains to operate at full speed. | National rail services through Stratford again faced long delays and disruptions due to problems with overhead cables, a day after Greater Anglia announced it was too hot for its trains to operate at full speed. |
| Compounding a sense of the capital's transport system feeling the strain, the £45m Emirates Air Line cable car, which links two Olympic venues in east London across the Thames, came to a halt and stranded about 60 people mid-air for more than half an hour until the service resumed. | Compounding a sense of the capital's transport system feeling the strain, the £45m Emirates Air Line cable car, which links two Olympic venues in east London across the Thames, came to a halt and stranded about 60 people mid-air for more than half an hour until the service resumed. |
| CCTV showed traffic tailbacks while Games lanes remained empty. Drivers risk £130 fines for straying into any of the 30 miles of Games lanes marked for sole usage by accredited Olympic vehicles when they are operational. | CCTV showed traffic tailbacks while Games lanes remained empty. Drivers risk £130 fines for straying into any of the 30 miles of Games lanes marked for sole usage by accredited Olympic vehicles when they are operational. |
| While overall traffic in London was down by 13.5% on normal July levels, traffic independent analysts said there was significantly more congestion in key areas. According to travel information provider Inrix, drivers faced hour-long delays on the M4-A4 corridor where traffic tailing back 12 miles moved at 10mph, and congestion doubled between Waterloo and London Bridge, persisting long after normal rush hour. | While overall traffic in London was down by 13.5% on normal July levels, traffic independent analysts said there was significantly more congestion in key areas. According to travel information provider Inrix, drivers faced hour-long delays on the M4-A4 corridor where traffic tailing back 12 miles moved at 10mph, and congestion doubled between Waterloo and London Bridge, persisting long after normal rush hour. |
| On the Embankment, where Games lanes were switched on, traffic was moving by late morning. Taxi drivers estimated that congestion was only "around 25%" worse than usual. | On the Embankment, where Games lanes were switched on, traffic was moving by late morning. Taxi drivers estimated that congestion was only "around 25%" worse than usual. |
| Despite the evident problems, both the Olympic organisers, Locog, and Transport for London were upbeat. | Despite the evident problems, both the Olympic organisers, Locog, and Transport for London were upbeat. |
| Speaking at the Olympic Park, Jackie Brock-Doyle, Locog's director of communications, said: "London is moving well this morning." | Speaking at the Olympic Park, Jackie Brock-Doyle, Locog's director of communications, said: "London is moving well this morning." |
| Tfl said the Olympic route network's first day went well. While they claimed not to have received reports of driver confusion, a spokesman said: "It is important for drivers to understand that we are operating the Games lanes as flexibly as we can. When they are being lightly used we are opening them up to all traffic and using over 150 electronic message signs to make it clear to road users that they can drive in the Games lanes." | Tfl said the Olympic route network's first day went well. While they claimed not to have received reports of driver confusion, a spokesman said: "It is important for drivers to understand that we are operating the Games lanes as flexibly as we can. When they are being lightly used we are opening them up to all traffic and using over 150 electronic message signs to make it clear to road users that they can drive in the Games lanes." |
| Defending the lanes on Tuesday, the transport commissioner, Peter Hendy, said the Olympic route network had been a requirement for every host city since the debacle of Atlanta in 1996 when some athletes missed their events because of traffic jams. | Defending the lanes on Tuesday, the transport commissioner, Peter Hendy, said the Olympic route network had been a requirement for every host city since the debacle of Atlanta in 1996 when some athletes missed their events because of traffic jams. |
| Justine Greening, the transport secretary, promised constant monitoring would keep the situation under control. Transport chiefs have promised Games lanes will be used only when necessary. However, she reiterated: "We are advising anyone not to bring a car into central London." | Justine Greening, the transport secretary, promised constant monitoring would keep the situation under control. Transport chiefs have promised Games lanes will be used only when necessary. However, she reiterated: "We are advising anyone not to bring a car into central London." |
| Bob Crow, leader of the RMT union, said: "Everything RMT has warned would happen for the past two years through the impact of cuts to track inspections, maintenance schedules and staffing has come home to haunt rail and tube services in the past 48 hours." | Bob Crow, leader of the RMT union, said: "Everything RMT has warned would happen for the past two years through the impact of cuts to track inspections, maintenance schedules and staffing has come home to haunt rail and tube services in the past 48 hours." |
| These problems also include those on Tuesday evening affecting the flagship Javelin, the high-speed train connecting central London to the Olympic Park, which had many of its services cancelled or delayed for up to an hour. | These problems also include those on Tuesday evening affecting the flagship Javelin, the high-speed train connecting central London to the Olympic Park, which had many of its services cancelled or delayed for up to an hour. |
| RMT is still in dispute with South West Trains and industrial action could affect train services during the Olympics, although Hendy said there would be very little impact. | RMT is still in dispute with South West Trains and industrial action could affect train services during the Olympics, although Hendy said there would be very little impact. |
| The planned strike by border officials at Heathrow was called off by the PCS union, which cited a Home Office decision to hire 1,100 staff, including 800 border employees. The union's general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said due to "significant progress" there was now no case for the union proceeding with industrial action. | The planned strike by border officials at Heathrow was called off by the PCS union, which cited a Home Office decision to hire 1,100 staff, including 800 border employees. The union's general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said due to "significant progress" there was now no case for the union proceeding with industrial action. |
| The government said no concessions had been offered. | The government said no concessions had been offered. |
| A Heathrow spokeswoman said: "It is great news that those arriving tomorrow can also expect a warm welcome to London and the Games." | A Heathrow spokeswoman said: "It is great news that those arriving tomorrow can also expect a warm welcome to London and the Games." |
| Additional reporting by Hilary Aked | Additional reporting by Hilary Aked |
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