The Olympic Park with London beyond.

With eight months to go before the opening ceremony, 26% of road freight operators are still ‘not at all prepared’ for the logistical challenge posed by the 2012 Olympic Games.

A survey by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) shows that while progress has been made many companies are still stuck firmly in the starting blocks. 

Natalie Chapman, FTA’s Head of Policy for London, said: “While progress is being made it is worrying that there are still so many businesses unprepared for the Games. This is a huge concern, not just for industry, but for anyone who wants the Games to be a success. A prolonged period of high demand – FTA is telling its members to treat the Games and the Paralympic Games like a three-month Christmas period – against the backdrop of severe delivery restrictions poses a huge challenge. But although for some forward-thinking companies the race to prepare for this enormous global event has already begun, many businesses haven’t even started warming up yet.”

FTA’s survey also asked industry to indicate its level of knowledge of how the Olympic Route Network (ORN), which will effectively be closed to deliveries between 6am and midnight, and Games Lanes, which are designated roads set aside for athletes, games officials and marketing partners only, will affect their operations. 18% of respondents reported that they had ‘little knowledge’ and 26% ‘no knowledge’ when asked how the Olympic Route Network or Games Lanes will operate.

Chapman said: “Since July a large chunk of the industry still has no idea about how the Games Lanes or the ORN will affect them, Transport for London (TfL) has provided postcode data to transport operators, which should help businesses plan ahead, but we would also urge companies to start thinking about other things they can do to mitigate any disruption.”

Key dates for the Games:

27 June: Venues open, media centre opens, soft opening of Olympic Village
13 July: Official opening of Olympic Village
27 July: Opening ceremony
28 July–12 August: Olympic Games
13 - 16 August: Olympic Games departures
29 August: Paralympic opening ceremony
10-12 September: Paralympic Games departures
14 September: Olympic Park closes

The Olympic challenge

• 20,000 journalists, photographers and broadcasters will be covering the Games;
• 14,700 athletes will compete;
• 46 sports will be played over 29 days;
• 800,000 people are expected to use public transport to travel to the Games on the busiest day;
• Over one million will visit the stadium;
• 80% of visitors will come by rail;
• 2.6% of London’s roads will be used by the Olympic Route Network and less than 1% of these will have temporary Games Lanes;
• 50,000 meals will be served daily in the 24-hour catering village;
• 1.8 million tonnes of material has been delivered to the Olympic Park by rail;
• 232 tonnes of potatoes, 330 tonnes of fruit and veg and 260,000 loaves of bread will be consumed in the Olympic Village during the Games;
• Four billion people around the world are expected to watch the London 2012 Games on TV.

There are also proposals to impose additional parking charges beyond the Olympic Route Network during the Games period in London. It is believed that London Councils’ plans to extend the £200 parking fine penalty currently set for the ORN to surrounding areas is an unjustified, cynical move to cash in on the Games at a time when businesses will be under intense pressure to keep London moving.

Picture courtesy of London 2012.