WITH less than 100 days until the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Network Rail says it is expecting to carry one million extra passengers during a massive summer of sport.
For over a year Network Rail teams have been busy preparing for the influx of visitors this summer and getting the railway in the best possible shape for the games in July and August.
To ensure it’s in peak fitness for passengers during the games, Network Rail has:
Unveiled a hi-tech response vehicle to quickly deal with any railway incidents if they happen
Trained more than 100 volunteer station hosts to welcome visitors to Birmingham New Street
Cleaned up thousands of unsightly graffiti ‘grot spots’ across the West Midlands
And now it has also revealed its three golden rules for passengers who will travel by train during the Commonwealth Games:
Plan your journey and check before you travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk
Allow extra time – services and stations will be busier than usual, especially near key venues
Remember Network Rail’s motto of ‘Be safe, be patient, be kind’.
Improvements continue at train stations to get them into podium position before passengers arrive.
At Leamington Spa, the station forecourt and underpass are being transformed to provide a cleaner, brighter welcome for spectators the Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls.
Meanwhile, work to install lifts at Smethwick Galton Bridge has been sped up to make sure that they will be working for visitors to the Sandwell Aquatics Centre during the Games.
Elsewhere, Coventry station’s major makeover with new bus interchange will make it much easier for passengers using the station throughout the Games and beyond.
Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “We’re pulling out all the stops to get ready for the million extra journeys we’re expecting while the Commonwealth Games are taking place, so that passengers can get to the Games safely and reliably.
“It’s great to be able to welcome so many extra passengers to the station and we’ll have extra staff and volunteers on hand to make sure visitors to the Games get off to a winning start.”
Passengers should check www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest journey information ahead of and during the Commonwealth Games.
The national Network Rail helpline is: 03457 11 41 41
