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Railway Operations during the Olympics: Introduction

The success of the London 2012 Olympics relied heavily upon public transport to get spectators and volunteers to and from venues. Southern Region TOCs were in the front line, especially and with venues directly on their patches, and others, such as , providing a much enhanced service to get the public to and from London. Here we feature some aspects, barely scratching the surface really, of Southern Electric railway operations during the Olympics.

Photographs are by "GB" unless otherwise credited.

London 2012 Olympic banner outside of Cannon Street Station

An Olympics banner outside of Cannon Street Station, as seen on 5th August

It is fair to state that there was not only international concern, but also worry in the UK, over whether our public transport system would cope. In fact, whilst not perfect, coping with a vast increase in services and passenger numbers it did very well. In fact many visitors commented they wish they had such services at home! This is a good example of what can happen when sufficient resources, not to mention an enormous amount of money, are effectively deployed to a situation. This railway commuter for 37 years comments that if only it were this way every day!

The facts and figures are recounted elsewhere, but for example, we think Southeastern have a right to celebrate 7.7 million passenger journeys made - a 20% increase to normal traffic.

Below: One of measures to increase capacity to Weymouth was use of Class 450s with their 3+2 seating vice the usual Class 44s with 2+2 seating. A pair of Class 450s climb towards Bincombe Tunnel with the 10:03 from Weymouth to Waterloo on 10th August.

A pair of 450s climb towards Bincombe Tunnel with the 10:03 from Weymouth to Waterloo on 10th August