Free workshops in Paris, Lille and Zoetermeer to offer advice to freight and logistics industry on making deliveries and collections in the UK during the Games.
Transport for London (TfL) is urging European freight and logistics operators to plan their journeys into and around London and other Games venue locations during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, when large parts of the capital will be transformed into a massive sporting and cultural venue.
European freight operators who need to make deliveries or collections in London during the Games are being strongly advised by TfL to plan ahead and allow more time for their journeys.
The Olympic Games run from 27 July to 12 August, and the Paralympic Games from 29 August until 9 September. Temporary changes will, however, be introduced on London's road network from mid-July.
Free workshops in Paris, Lille and Zoetermeer later this month aim to give operators all the information they need to ensure they can continue to make their deliveries and collections in the capital smoothly. To apply for a place, operators should visit www.freightadviceworkshops.eventbrite.co.uk where there is a list of workshop dates, times and locations.
European operators are also being urged to log on to TfL's Freight Journey Planner at www.tfl.gov.uk/2012freight which calculates the most appropriate route from any junction of the M25 motorway - which surrounds London - to destinations within the city. Operators should also talk to their UK customers to find out if they have any special delivery instructions in place during the Games, and consider making deliveries or collections out-of-hours when Games road restrictions are lifted.
Ian Wainwright, Road Freight Programme Manager at Transport for London, said: "Roads in central London and around venues will be exceptionally busy during the Games. TfL is making every effort to ensure that European operators are aware of, and can comply with, the changes that will be made to London's roads this summer but it's really important that they plan ahead to familiarise themselves with the road restrictions and how to avoid any disruption to their usual journeys."
Natalie Chapman, the Freight Transport Association's Head of Policy for London, said: "Operating in London will be particularly challenging this summer. UK based freight and logistics companies have been well briefed on the changes, but it is equally important that companies sending vehicles and drivers into the UK from the continent are also fully prepared. So wherever you are based, if you are servicing customers in London over the Olympic and Paralympic period, FTA would urge everyone to use the wealth of information available to ensure they get Games ready."
Although open to general traffic, temporary changes along the Olympic Route Network and Paralympic Route Network (ORN/PRN) will mean parking and loading suspensions, and there will be road closures for events including the Torch Relay, Marathons and the Cycle Road Races. There will also be temporary traffic management measures in place around the Olympic and Paralympic venues which include not only the Olympic Park in East London but Games venues across the capital and the UK.
In addition to TfL's free workshop programme, a leaflet in four languages - Dutch, French, German and Polish - offering advice and information to freight operators making deliveries or collections during Games time will be distributed on some cross-Channel services, at ports and at Eurotunnel.
· TfL is running free morning and afternoon workshops for freight operators in Zoetermeer (19 June), Lille (20 June), and Paris (21 June). For more information and to book a place, log on to www.freightadviceworkshops.eventbrite.co.uk
· For information, maps and planning tools to help operators plan ahead for travel in the capital during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, log onto www.tfl.gov.uk/2012freight and www.getaheadofthegames.com
· Operators can also register for free information updates by emailing freight@tfl.gov.uk