1. LONDON
TRANSPORT'S
ROLE
WITH
REGARD
TO
TRANSPORT
ARRANGEMENTS
1.1 London Transport's role
London Transport has direct responsibility for the
provision of Underground, bus and river services. Whilst LT does
not have direct responsibility for the provision of rail, Docklands
Light Rail and coach services, it aims to ensure that all services
are co-ordinated to provide an integrated transport provision
to support the Millennium Experience.
LT has utilised its transport modelling capability
to predict the impacts of visitors to the Millennium Experience
on the London wide public transport network. This information
has been shared with the New Millennium Experience Company and
will be shared with other transport providers. It is updated as
and when further information on, for example, the time of events
becomes available. The modelling identifies that the priorities
for integration are between LT's Underground, bus and river services
and the following services of other operators:
- Connex South Eastern which will deliver visitors
from a wide variety of origins in South East London and Kent to
key interchange stations at London Bridge (for Jubilee Line),
Greenwich and Charlton (for Millennium Transit), Lewisham and
Blackheath (for bus).
- Train Operating Companies providing services
into Paddington, Euston, King's Cross, Victoria, Waterloo, Stratford,
West Ham and Canning Town.
- Docklands Light Railway (DLR) which currently
has key interchanges with the Jubilee line at Canning Town and
Canary Wharf, and with the proposed cable car near East India
DLR station. The DLR extension to Lewisham is under construction
with the aim of completion by the end of 1999. This will provide
additional access between the Experience site, Greenwich and South
London in general. Interchange will be possible with the Jubilee
Line at Canary Wharf station or with bus services at Cutty Sark
station.
- Coach operators which utilise scheduled services
which may take visitors to and from Victoria coach station. In
addition, dedicated coach services are expected to utilise a 375
space coach park which is currently being constructed on the Greenwich
Peninsula as an integral element of the Experience site.
Integration with those visitors utilising the private
car for part of their journey will be enhanced as a result of
NMEC's revised Park and Ride strategy which incorporates increased
use of car parking provision at existing rail and Underground
stations. This is further referenced to under section 3.3.
1.2 Transport Strategy
LT has considered the Transport Strategy proposed
by NMEC and fully supports the objective of maximising access
to the site by public transport.
LT considers that the largest transport threat to
the success of the Experience is posed by people attempting to
drive as far as possible before using public transport for the
final leg. LT therefore welcomes the changes NMEC have proposed
to the "park and ride" element of their strategy and
is working with NMEC to understand in more detail the potential
threats posed by the private car and potential mitigation measures.
Decisions made by NMEC on event timings will have
a significant impact on demand for public transport services.
It is important, for example, to avoid clashes between the finish
of Millennium events and evening peak travel periods. LT have
raised this issue with NMEC and both parties are working proactively
to ensure compatibility is achieved.
The Minister for Transport in London has created
recently two groups concerned with transport issues for the Millennium:
the Millennium Access Coordination Group chaired by the Minister
and the Millennium Access Infrastructure Group chaired by Lord
Levene. LT is actively involved at Chief Executive level in both
groups. As well as meeting its own obligations, LT will provide
support and expertise elsewhere as required for both the Millennium
Experience and events elsewhere in Greater London.
1.3 Ticketing arrangements
LT considers that achieving integrated sales and
marketing of admission and transport will be a significant factor
in the achievement of high levels of public transport access to
the Millennium Experience. LT has held discussions with NMEC and
the Train Operating Companies regarding the suitability of the
ticketing options NMEC has been considering.
NMEC plan to sell the majority of admission tickets
to the Millennium Experience through the lottery sales system.
NMEC plan also to have a sales call centre. LT considers that
integrated sales of admission and transport can be achieved through
the call centre, but achieving this through the lottery system
represents a significant challenge. LT are working with NMEC,
therefore, in an attempt to find acceptable means to achieve some
form of integrated sales through the lottery system.
1.4 River passenger services
The recently formed London River Services Limited
(LRSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of LT, has responsibility for
the provision of two dedicated riverboat passenger services to/from
the Millennium Dome site at Greenwich. It has also to provide,
or ensure the availability of, supporting infrastructure. This
forms part of the Thames 2000 Initiative sponsored by the Cross
River Partnership.
The following proposed services have been designed
to meet the specific requirements of the NMEC, and will commence
operation on 1 January 2000 and will run until 31 December 2000
(or the end of the exhibition, if later). A map of river services
is appended (not printed).
- An Express service linking Central London and
the Experience site, operating between the Millennium Wheel pier
(Waterloo) and the Experience site, calling at Blackfriars pier
en route.
- A Shuttle service operating directly between
Greenwich (Old Town) pier and the Experience site.
City Cruises Ltd and White Horse Fast Ferries plc
have been selected, through a competitive process, as preferred
bidders to provide the Central London "Express" and
Greenwich "Shuttle" services, respectively. Both companies
already operate riverboat passenger services on the Thames.
Discussions are continuing with the two boat operators
and NMEC with a view to finalising tripartite service licensing
agreements by the end of August 1998. Key milestones leading up
to commencement of boat services on 1 January 2000 (e.g. boat
delivery, trial running) will be set out in the licences and delivery
of new vessels is planned for completion by November 1999.
To allow the two operators to provide the above services,
the following new facilities will be required:
- Millennium Wheel Pier (Waterloo):
This pier will be constructed and owned (initially at least) by
the Millennium Wheel Co. Ltd (MWCL). LRSL and MWCL will reach
agreement in relation to the use of the pier by LRSL services
and, possibly, for LRSL to act as "Managing Agent" for
the pier.
- Blackfriars Pier:
This pier will be constructed, owned and managed by LRSL.
For both Millennium Wheel and Blackfriars sites,
part funding for the piers and associated landside works is being
provided by the Millennium Commission. This funding will be channelled
through the London Borough of Lambeth who are acting as the accountable
body for the whole Thames 2000 initiative project.
- Millennium Dome Pier:
This pier will be provided by NMEC. Use of the pier by dedicated
Millennium services will be covered by the tripartite service
licence agreement.
1.5 Bus services
1.5.1 Existing services
Substantial revisions to the bus service network
have been developed by LT Buses (LTB) to integrate with Extended
Jubilee Line services when the line opens.
The demand forecast for bus services to/from North
Greenwich where, prior to the Jubilee line extension, the Dome
and other developments on the peninsula, there is no demand, requires
substantial changes to the local bus network. LTB have developed
proposals which are currently going through the normal consultation
process with the Local Authorities. The revised network will provide
direct bus links from Bexleyheath, Thamesmead, Chislehurst, Woolwich,
Charlton, Lewisham, Stratford and Greenwich to LT's new Transport
Interchange next to the Millennium Dome.
These proposed changes provide 30 buses per hour
to serve the new Transport Interchange. This service provision
will be kept under review to ensure it continues to meet passenger
demand prior to and during the Millennium year. Given these service
levels it is imperative that high levels of bus priority on approaches
to the new Interchange are achieved and that unrestricted access
to the new Transport Interchange is maintained for bus services
at all times.
LTB are considering the early introduction of one
route to the Transport Interchange prior to the opening of the
Extended Jubilee Line to cater for staff working on construction
at the site. This can be introduced as soon as necessary highway
works are completed.
1.5.2 New services
Two additional bus services are being proposed specifically
to support the Millennium Experience. The first, known as Millennium
Transit, will link Charlton station with the Millennium Dome.
Current forecasts provided by the transport consultants
to the NMEC are that, of the 12 million visitors to the Dome,
4% (i.e. approximately 480,000) will arrive through Charlton station.
Millennium Transit has been planned to meet this demand,
although it will be possible to vary service levels depending
on actual usage.
The Millennium Transit service aspires to
deliver the best passenger facilities that the bus industry currently
provides. It aims to offer the following features:
- Full accessibility
- Environmental efficiency
- High standards of customer facility and comfort
- High quality of information both on the vehicles
and at terminals.
It is planned that the Millennium Transit
will use a dedicated busway through the Millennium Village site.
This busway will be suitable for the installation of a bus guidance
system. Such a system would provide accurate level boarding at
bus stops and contribute to a smoother ride quality for passengers.
The provision of such a system has been investigated by LT Buses
and can be achieved, though at present there is uncertainty over
the funding of the dedicated busway. This is currently being taken
forward in discussions between Government Office for London, English
Partnerships and London Borough of Greenwich. Decisions are required
in July 1998 on the busway, if the timescales for installing a
bus guidance system are to be met.
The second specific Millennium bus service being
considered is a dedicated link between North Greenwich and Greenwich
Town Centre. This has been requested by London Borough of Greenwich
to serve people who might wish to combine a visit to the Millennium
Experience with time spent in Historic Greenwich. It would also
serve Greenwich DLR and Railtrack stations.
Calls for expressions of interest in both these services
were placed in the European Journal by LT Buses in January of
this year. Invitations to tender were issued in April and the
closing date for receipt of tender bids is in June. It is intended
to award the service contracts in July 1998. This will allow introduction
at any time from October 1999.
These schemes are seen as part of a longer term legacy
for a largely segregated Transit service between Greenwich and
Thamesmead via North Greenwich which LT is planning in conjunction
with London Borough of Greenwich.
2. FURTHER
DEVELOPMENTS
ON
THE
EXTENDED
JUBILEE
LINE
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee, in its second
report into the Millennium Dome concluded that, "it should
be a matter of utmost priority for London Underground to work
on the delivery of a signalling system to allow 24 trains per
hour to use the North Greenwich Station in 2000 as the congestion
created by a limit of 17 trains per hour would significantly detract
from the pleasure of the day out."
In view of the difficulties which continued to be
experienced by the signalling contractor, and in recognition of
this CMS Committee recommendation, London Underground (LU) has
revised the strategy for the Extended Jubilee Line.
The strategy now is to open the Extended Jubilee
Line with through services between Stanmore and Stratford with
a capacity of up to 24 trains per hour. The achievement of this,
however, necessitated a revision to the line opening date to the
Spring of 1999 from September 1998 which was no longer achievable
given the signalling contractor's difficulties.
As with any project there are risks to completion
which have to be managed. The significant risks to line opening
are understood and are the subject of intense focus at Chief Executive
level both within LT and by the key contractors. LU has also strengthened
its own management focus and capabilities via new project control
arrangements and additional expert resources.
LT continues to be confident that line opening will
be achieved in Spring 1999, well in time for the Millennium.
As reported in the Government response to the CMS
Committee's second report, LU has modelled the demand predictions
for the Extended Jubilee Line during the Millennium year. This
shows that a peak service of 24 trains per hour the number of
passengers per train will be well within current planning guidelines.
As such, this should be more than adequate to deal with the expected
visitor numbers.
3. RESPONSE
TO
SUGGESTIONS
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
CONTAINED
IN
PARAGRAPH
45 OF
THE
COMMITTEE'S
SECOND
REPORT
OF
THIS
SESSION
3.1 London Underground's attitude
London Transport, including London Underground, is
committed to ensuring that public transport contributes towards
the success of the Millennium Experience.
LT has been working proactively with the New Millennium
Experience Company and it's predecessors since 1996. It formed
a dedicated group to co-ordinate its services and activities in
support of both the Millennium Experience and other Millennium
events proposed to take place elsewhere in London.
LU believe it has responded positively to the Committee's
recommendations. LT is actively involved in the provision of river
services and has been a key promoter of the Millennium Transit.
London Transport Buses are well advanced with the planning of
additional services for the Millennium Experience which will utilise
the magnificent new Transport Interchange recently completed by
LT on the North Greenwich site.
3.2 Station name
LT has worked closely with NMEC regarding options
for promoting the Millennium Experience, which included consideration
of a full permanent name change for the Jubilee line station at
North Greenwich.
LT and NMEC have agreed that a series of cosmetic
applications would be the most cost effective approach given the
high cost and line opening risks of effecting a permanent name
change at this stage of the project. These applications will utilise
NMEC's preferred branding which is currently understood to be
"Millennium Dome" or something similar.
The proposed applications would retain the name North
Greenwich with all references being accompanied by "for
the Millennium Dome". Under these proposals the "Millennium
Dome" brand would feature on a wide range of mediums including
station signage, route maps and diagrams, customer information,
and public address announcements.
3.3 Park and Ride sites
LU has provided NMEC with a list of car park facilities
on the outer periphery of its network, along with details of capacity
and utilisation. Little spare capacity is available during weekdays
but significant capacity is available during weekends and public
holidays which coincides with the days when demand from the Millennium
Experience is expected to be greatest. LT will assist in the promotion
of NMEC's revised park and ride strategy through its own marketing
activities in order to increase the use of public transport.
3.4 Integration of tickets
The response is contained in the evidence given under
Section 1.3.
June 1998
