Wheels in motion for spectator bus and coach travel

Bus and coach services will help spectators from across the UK to get to the heart of the Games at the Olympic Park.

They will also run services to venues outside London, such as Weymouth and Portland where the Sailing events will be held.

The spectator coach and bus services that First Group, which is based in Aberdeen, will provide include around 500 buses and coaches for shuttle services between venues and park-and-ride sites. It will also provide around 90 buses and coaches  to connect park-and-ride sites on the edge of the M25 with the Olympic Park and Ebbsfleet, from where spectators will be able to take the high-speed Javelin® train service to the Park.

A further 300 coaches (sub-contracted from fleets up and down the country) will operate a network of express coach services to the Olympic Park and Weymouth and Portland.

ODA Transport Director Hugh Sumner said: ‘About 10% of spectators will use direct coach services, and a further 11% will use park-and-ride services to get to events and venues across the country. As such, this is a significant contract that will help ensure the ODA meets spectator travel requirements in 2012.’