Olympics Transport Upgrade, United Kingdom

London's already extensive network of transportation assets is at the beginning of a series of upgrades and additions to make the city ready for the Olympic Games, which are being hosted in the United Kingdom's capital city in 2012.

The Underground, Docklands Light Railway and main line rail services are all in line for major improvements, including new lines, enhancements to current infrastructure and new rolling stock.

Each day London’s transport systems carry 11 million passengers, with 3 million on the underground and 1.8 million passengers on national rail services. By the 2012 Olympics, there will be a total of ten public transport lines feeding the sporting area, including the centrepiece Olympic Javelin high-speed rail service on the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

THE PROJECT

Even with the vast array of rail systems in the UK capital, further upgrades are needed ahead of the 2012 Olympics. These upgrades will benefit the city for generations ahead, with many of the improvements planned prior to the announcement that London had won the bid to host the prestigious event.

The primary project is completion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), which is due to become fully operational on November 14 2007 – 14 years to the day since the Channel Tunnel opened. Not only does this allow the acceleration of Eurostar international services between London, Paris and Brussels, it will also see the start of the Olympic Javelin high-speed shuttle. A new fleet of domestic trains will allow the movement of 25,000 spectators every hour between central London and Stratford.

London Underground is undergoing a massive programme of refurbishment, including track relaying to improve reliability and ride and also the refurbishment of all the stations before 2012.

The Docklands Light Railway has already opened a new extension to London City Airport from Canning Town, which is expected to play an important part in the Olympics. This system is also due for two further extensions to take the system on to North Woolwich from London City Airport by 2009 and to Stratford International by 2010.

The fourth major project to be completed before 2012 is the upgrading and conversion of the East London Line to a metro style heavy rail system. This project is being organised under the banner of London Over ground, which is a new branch of Transport for London which will operate the ELL and the routes that form North London Railways.

The first phase of the ELL project will see the former London Underground line converted to heavy rail standards and extended north to Dalston Junction. A new viaduct, rebuilt stations and improved trackwork are all part of the plan which will see a new image brought to this backwater railway.

It will stretch southwards to West Croydon by 2010, and in phase two services will be extended further north from Dalston Junction to Highbury and Islington in 2011. Ultimately, the project could make orbital journeys around London possible by 2016.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The majority of the infrastructure work involved in preparing for the Olympics is taking place in the Stratford area, close to the venue for the 2012 games. The biggest single project is Stratford International Station, the catalyst for the creation of Stratford City.

It is being built in a 1km long concrete walled box below ground. The station will be used for both international CTRL services as well as the Olympic Javelin shuttle trains.

On the CTRL, the refurbishment of St Pancras station's Barlow train shed is a major feature, alongside a £402m maintenance depot at Temple Mills, east London, to replace the current depot at North Pole, Kensington.

Between 2006 and 2011, £1bn per year will be invested in the London Underground, on a large number of projects including station refurbishment and track upgrading. The key project here is a 45% increase in capacity on the Jubilee line which will serve the Olympic Park. The short 2.5km Waterloo & City Line was closed for five months from April–September 2006 for station wholesale refurbishment and track relaying.

ROLLING STOCK

By far the most important rolling stock order is for the flagship Olympic Javelin trains. A total of 28 Hitachi 'A Train' electric multiple units capable of 140mph were ordered for the high-speed domestic commuter services on the CTRL and intensive Javelin service.

The trains, which are worth £250m, are being built using Japanese 'Bullet train' technology and are due to be delivered by 2009. The Olympic Park will be served by one of these trains every 15 seconds, providing space for 25,000 passengers from the city centre.

Bombardier won the main contract for 1,738 new cars for the Victoria and sub-surface lines for delivery between 2008 and 2015. The Jubilee line too has secured extra cars to strengthen current train formations for coping with higher passenger volumes.

The contract to build a fleet of 44 new units for London Overground has also been awarded to Bombardier. The first 24 of these trains are due to enter service on North London Railways routes – Euston-Watford, Gospel Oak-Barking and Willesden Junction-Clapham Junction – in 2009, with the remaining 20 sets destined for the East London Line on its opening in 2010.

Docklands Light Railway is also expanding its fleet with an order for 31 additional cars worth £50m from Bombardier. The new trains are due to enter service in 2008–09 and provide additional capacity on the expanding system.

SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATIONS

The biggest change is on the underground. A £600m contract was awarded for the complete resignalling of the Jubilee and Northern Lines to increase capacity and reliability. The new system on the Jubilee Line will also allow full use to be made of newly-lengthened trains on the cross-city route.

THE FUTURE

London's transport system is on the verge of dramatic change. Stations are being improved and new rolling stock is being ordered for long-lasting effect. When all the projects are complete 240 trains will serve the Olympic park every hour, with ten different lines feeding the area.