Improved transport links are one of the top three most important long-term benefits of the London 2012 Olympics, a new survey from the ‘People 1st Training Company’ and ‘YouGov’ reveals today.
Topping the list of what Brits thought would be the most important long term benefit of the Olympics for Britain was improved sporting and leisure facilities (21%) followed by increasing Britain’s profile in the world as a good place to host other big international sporting events (16%).
Improved transport links came third with 12% – this rose to 23% in London and was perceived to be the top long-term benefit for those living in the capital.
While Britain’s transportation is set to benefit, it is hoped the same can be said for British customer service.
The newly improved Stratford Station will handle close to half of all Olympic Park spectators to the Olympic Park.
The station has benefitted from more than £125 million of upgrades and enhancements, with capacity trebled to accommodate 120,000 people during the morning peaks in 2012, when more than 200 trains will pass through the station each hour.
This has been achieved through upgrades including dual-side opening doors on the Central Line at Stratford station, the introduction of three-car trains on the DLR, and mainline rail service improvements, including the North London Line, Lea Valley lines, Great Eastern Main Line and East London Line (see full list of improvements in factfile below).
Meanwhile, the establishment of the Javelin service at Stratford International will also help meet demand, as will investment in improving capacity at West Ham, where the ODA has built a new temporary bridge that will take spectators directly from the District and Hammersmith & City Line platform to the Greenway walking route and into the Olympic Park.
This will also allow regular commuters to follow their usual route through the station with less disruption.
73% surveyed agreed we need to improve our customer service ahead of the Olympics and just 14% think Britain’s hospitality and how we welcome guests is the aspect that will most ensure we are a good host to international visitors during London 2012.
Sharon Glancy, director of the People 1st Training Company, says:
“Developing the infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is critical but the lasting impression for the millions of visitors that will arrive for the Games will be if they have had a positive experience of Britain.
“We must all play our part. Businesses in the travel industry really need to step up and take customer service training seriously especially if they want to take advantage of the estimated £2bn that could be generated from visitors.
“Workers across the industry will be representing Britain on the frontline.”
Further breakdown of results shows that while Londoners were the most enthusiastic about better transport links, the Welsh were less likely to see improved transportation links as the most important long-term benefit (6%) as were those in Scotland (9%) and the North (9%).
Respondents in the 18-24 age group were more likely to see improved transport as the most important long-term benefit (17%) and least likely were those aged 55 plus (9%).
So what exactly is being gained here? Your article says next to nothing except that people want a transport legacy. Stratford already had mainline connections to Liverpool Street and out into Essex and East Anglia, DLR, Jubilee and Central Underground lines and Channel Tunnel line. One stop away on the Central Line it connected to the District Line at Mile End or one step on the Jubilee LIne to another maniline at West Ham. It is just down the road from the A12/A11 east or to the Blackwall Tunnel. Bus route to Stansted and a DLR train ride to City Airport. It was one of the best connected places in London, its rail and bus stations had already been redeveloped under the City Challenge programme. The further improvements are entirely unnecessary for everyday needs, only relate to the extraordinary circumstances of the Olympics, represent poor value for money and are marginal when set against what already existed. Just more Olympic boosterism.