‘2012 Games Train Tickets’ go on sale this month

Millions of London 2012 spectators will be able to take advantage of great value rail fares from this month, well ahead of next summer’s Games.

Train companies are offering special rail fares exclusively to Olympic and Paralympic spectators.

‘2012 Games Train Tickets’ will be available to buy more than 12 months in advance of the start of the Olympic Games, allowing spectators to book their rail travel once they have confirmation of all their London 2012 sports event tickets.

The tickets will offer great value rail travel from every National Rail station across Great Britain to all the Games venues.

First Class tickets will be offered on any services where First Class is available and child and Railcard discounts will apply with no time or minimum fare restrictions. Seat reservations will be available for longer journeys.

2012 Games Train Tickets are designed to be flexible and will allow spectators to change the time they return should an event be unexpectedly rescheduled, or if they simply wish to remain longer.

They will be available to buy through the dedicated website – which will go live in late June.

Spectators will be directed to the website from the London 2012 Spectator Journey Planner – which will inform spectators on how to get to specific venues, whether by rail, bus, coach, river, bike or foot, and direct them to the relevant travel provider for booking tickets.

The 2012 Games train fares can be used by event ticket holders to travel to and from London and all cities hosting Games events: Coventry, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Weymouth.

Ticketed spectators travelling to Games events in and around London will also be given a Games Travelcard with their Games event ticket, allowing travel within zones 1–9 as far as Watford Junction on most National Rail services, and all Transport for London services throughout the day of their event.

Spectators with event tickets to venues around London – Eton Dorney (Rowing), Lee Valley White Water Centre (Canoe Slalom) and Hadleigh Farm (Mountain Biking) – will receive a Travelcard, and will be able to travel on National Rail between London and the recommended stations for those venues at no additional charge.

Examples of 2012 Games train fares include:

• Newcastle to London – Advance return: from £37
• Leeds/York to London – Advance return: from £32
• Coventry to London – Advance return: £40.40
• Preston to London – Advance return: £61.40
• Manchester to London – Advance return: £46.40
• Cardiff to London – Advance return: from £21
• Basingstoke to London – Advance return: £15
• Sheffield to Manchester – Day return: £19.40
• Cambridge to London – Day return: £17

These prices will be even lower for spectators with a Railcard, who will be able to get at least a third off any 2012 Games train fare.

Train companies have also worked with Network Rail and ODA to draw up a special Olympic and Paralympic timetable providing thousands more services, running later in the evening and starting earlier.

This will ensure that more than eight million people are able to get to and from London 2012 Games venues.

There will also be more maximum length trains, and extended peak hour periods offering more frequent trains. Like the rail fares, the timetable has been developed earlier than usual so that spectators can book seats from late June 2011.

Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), said:

“The rail industry is committed to offering fast, flexible, reliable and affordable travel for the millions of spectators expected at Olympic and Paralympic events.

“Not only will the 2012 Games Train Tickets offer spectators great value for money, they can be booked over 12 months in advance – a UK first for a major event – and are flexible to allow spectators to change their plans.

“Thousands of extra services, earlier starting and later trains will be provided during the Games, to help ensure spectators enjoy all of the action.”

Hugh Sumner, Olympic Delivery Authority Director of Transport said: “Spectators can start to plan and book their travel from the end of June.

“The ODA’s own Spectator Journey Planner will act as a one-stop shop that will outline the various ways of getting to venues and direct people to the relevant travel providers for booking their Games travel.”