Southeastern today announced that it will be running extra services for the opening of Westfield Stratford City on Tuesday 13 September and Saturday 17 September.
With over 150,000 visitors expected for the opening day of the new shopping centre, Southeastern is taking the opportunity to test plans for the Paralympics next year.
The extra services will see an additional 2 trains an hour running between St Pancras International and Ebbsfleet International via Stratford International from approximately 07:00 until 23:00.
The extra services will also use the International platforms at Stratford International station. Working with Network Rail and High Speed 1, Southeastern will also be able to test queuing and other operational systems at the stations planned for the Olympics.
A Southeastern spokesman said: “We have been working closely with Westfield to understand what the numbers of passengers will be on our service for the opening.
“We know from the opening of Westfield London that nearly 250,000 shoppers attended. We are taking advantage of this increase in numbers to test our plans for 2012.”
Following the opening of Westfield Stratford City, the current bus connection between the International and the Regional centre will cease to run from the 20 September, with a walking route through the shopping centre available to all passengers as well as the DLR extension also in operation.
