Forum Topic

How is the olympics going to affect us?

Lots of people leaving town and I have no work for the duration as people either work from home or decamp to Birmingham or Manchester.Will the transport system cope? Will we be able to get around one way or another?I have just booked some theatre tickets on a rather good Evening Standard offer. Apparently the theatres aren't closing as some suggested but they obviously have lots of tickets.Is the whole thing a Millenium bug scare of a grand scale?

Sara Nathan ● 5179d78 Comments

Security?Maybe it could be like a cricket match....rain stop games!

Nicola Howard ● 5179d

I have volunteered to be a "Games Maker" for the Olympic Games and have been allocated the rowning/canoeing at Eton/Dorney. Early morning starts so I am praying that the Overland to Richmond will not let me down!!

Tony Crumpton ● 5178d

Has anyone seen the new revamped Kings Cross station? Opened I think just in time for the gaMes.It's fab - a cross between ST Pancras and the British Museum.Lots of retail/eateries of course but also large, clean loos and a spacious feel.Plus staff who seem to have been sent on an extensive charm school course.Yay! Result

sara nathan ● 5178d

I agree, it is fantastic and long overdue.  Kings Cross station used to be a nightmare.  I hope this means that we'll actually have no engineering works on the tube and Overground for a few weeks.  That'll be a miracle for sure.

N Roberts ● 5178d

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/livetravelnews/realtime/tube/track-closures.pdfThis weekend (14/15 July) will see the last weekend closures for planned weekend works on London Underground and the Stratford - Richmond line till after the Games.

Patrick Green ● 5178d

Oh bliss!

sara nathan ● 5178d

SAM (Surface to Air) missiles on the top of the Town Hall, mandatory as we are in Heathrow flight path

John Pollastrini ● 5177d

The Hammersmith & City Line part of Paddington has also undergone a quite substantial improvement.

Paul Woodgate ● 5176d

Confusion  over the Olympic lanes.  Do they start from today, tomorrow or two days before the games?  The M4 comes into force tomorrow the 16th, and it's a £130 fine if caught.  There is some doubt with the A40 as to when the restrictions start.  TFL are keeping MUM.  Another money spinner!

Nicola Howard ● 5176d

I wouldn't want to be the person who gives the order to shoot a plane down.

Susan Kelly ● 5175d

I live alongside the A40 in an area which reverts to gridlock at the slightest opportunity. I was expected to make my plans for the next couple of months on the basis of rumours because I have had virtually zero real information. I do know that there is now an olympics traffic lane plus a red bus route in front of my door, together with signs telling me that restrictions will start on July 15 and that I should visit the official website.I have visited that website, and there is absolutely no information about what will or not happen in this area, or when. The nearest is a map which includes the Northern Roundabout which it says is on the A4 Western Avenue (which is actually the A40 and ends about 1 mile away at East Acton).I did attend the recent East Acton Ward Forum where we were only allowed to submit a very limited number of questions in advance, and none to clarify what was said, and we listened to a long chat from the local transport expert on what information he would be able to give us, but virtually no real information because he was deemed to be out of time.I do not know what and when changes will be enforced, some local roads including those which are vital to traffic movement such as Leamington Park have simply been removed from the sketches provided, so I have to assume that I will not be able to travel anywhere for about two months.I am forced to assume that I will not be able to do any shopping, and that food deliveries to the area will be blocked either by restrictions or the resulting gridlock.

Chris Bell ● 5175d

So the M4 lane - and I expect some others - starts today.Any reports?I have a suspicion that a lot of Londoners left town over the weekend - as teh private schools are now broken up. certainly traffic was lighter by Sunday than it had been for a while

sara nathan ● 5175d

I took the A40 from Gypsy Corner west to Hanger Lane this am. The dot matrix sign on the left appeard to say the Olympic lane is operational now, whereas the pink signs on the central reservation suggest the Olympic Network Route comes into effect from 25th. The dot matrix is difficult to read and switches between current message and website address so you don't get a second chance to read the current message... what a to do eh?!! There's a third version of the sign saying avoid central london from the 15th. Why can't they stick to ONE message rather than FOUR?! ie "Olympic Lane In Operation" or "Olympic Lane in Operation from X July". There's a massive fine for drivers who get it wrong.Most traffic was playing it safe and not driving in the Olympic lane. Making the other 2 lanes congested and more dangerous than usual.

S Bradford ● 5175d

A quick internet search suggests SAM's are positioned in east and south London, and that RAF Northolt has got west london covered(!) with a few helecopters and jets. Let's hope they're not needed...

S Bradford ● 5175d

TFL are going for the first gold in, The Olympic Lane Cock-up. What about the driver that got lost for four hours, from Heathrow to the Olympic village!  Anyone game for a laugh?

Nicola Howard ● 5175d

"I have to assume that I will not be able to travel anywhere for about two months."Go to http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/travelinaffectedareas/city/london-temporary-road-changes.htmlClose the panel that appears in the centre of the screen, then enter your postcode and see details of temporary road changes near you.

Richard Jennings ● 5175d

According to the A40 restrictions, they begin on the 25thVideo

Nicola Howard ● 5175d

I had already done that, it does not even show the one closure (somewhere around St Andrews Road where my sister lives) mentioned at the East Acton Forum. I have also ticked the several relevant boxes to request email notifications, but nothing received yet, (it is just as important to know in advance which changes are not in operation day to day)

Chris Bell ● 5175d

Looks like the A40, from before Greenford to Marble Arch, and the A406 from Hanger Lane to Wembley will be constant.  Looking at the map, it looks as if the route crosses the top end of Horn Lane.The whole thing is nothing short of being a severe pain in the bum.  TFL get your act together.

Nicola Howard ● 5175d

"TFL get your act together."In what way?

Richard Jennings ● 5175d

Have I just upset a transport consultant (Hounslow council/TFL?)

Nicola Howard ● 5175d

Why does 'Olympic' traffic have to have priority?  Can't they use the underground like everyone else?

Dee Cook ● 5174d

Because the olympics has lost its direction and is no longer a sporting event, but a big vanity programme run by corrupt bureaucrats and global brands.  If you don't give the olympic fat cats everything they want, down to the type of hats the olympic drivers have to wear, you don't get the olympics and every career politician wants the olympics on his/her cv.

N Roberts ● 5174d

Apparently it was a requirement before "we" could even make a bid to host the games.

Chris Bell ● 5174d

No, you haven't upset me.  I was just curious about what action you were expecting from TfL, or why you think the ORN is such a severe pain.

Richard Jennings ● 5174d

We still have a week to go before the real start, apparently there are no local restrictions in force yet, but Park Royal is already well on the way to total gridlock.

Chris Bell ● 5174d

Went to Wembely today via the A40, the dot matrix was saying enforcement starts on the 28th

Nicola Howard ● 5174d

So I use the M4 daily and this week so far has been a dream both into and out of London. I live on the A40 and haven't noticed any difference.I used the M4 Olympic lane yesterday out of rebellion as I disagree with "special" people having their own roads. I shall continue to use the M4 lane because there are no cameras. However, in London I appreciate there are cameras, although how do the cameras recognise whether you're an olympic special person or a taxi or not?  Do they seriously have all the number plates of all Olympic vehicles and taxis stored in a system?  Or maybe they employ someone to trawl through hours and hours of footage each day?What really gets my goat is the fact that as of yesterday the viaduct in Brentford, wot is a bit falling down, is open to Olympic vehicles over 7.5t when "normal" vehicles over 7.5t are still banned because it's dangerous!!  Go figure.

Sarah Harris ● 5174d

I think it was Jeremy Hunt on Newsnight who recently said that about half the costs of the Games are being funded by sponsors. That could be around £4 to £5Bn.So in this our modern age, is it surprising that lanes will be closed?I think the only real concern about the Games, at the moment, is the security debacle. Here we have yet another group of public servants who can’t get their act together.A bit like Ealing Council as regards their cleaning contract.

George Knox ● 5174d

The small video cameras about 60mm diameter and often seen in line across the carriageway are capable of number recognition and can be used to check whether a vehicle has passed a low exhaust emissions test, while in some areas such as Luton to Bedford or through roadworks they are used to time journeys over a measured distance, calculate the average speed for each vehicle, and issue an automatic speeding penalty. The system is capable of tracking a vehicle.

Chris Bell ● 5174d

"Do they seriously have all the number plates of all Olympic vehicles and taxis stored in a system?"Olympic vehicles - yes, they do, and they have automatic number recognition systems to check if vehicles in the Ganes Lanes are authorised.  Taxis are not authorised to use them.The selective weight restriction on the viaduct is similar to that on Hammersmith Bridge, where buses are allowed but other vehicles of the same weight aren't.  It's just a way of keeping the overall stresses within limits.

Richard Jennings ● 5174d

The traffic lights on Victoria Road have been retimed and the tailbacks as a result are back to Willesden Junction and beyond.  It took 40 minutes to get to Asda from East Acton this morning - usually this is a 10/15 minute journey.  Coming from Homebase direction this afternoon to home this afternoon the traffic queuing along Old Oak Common Lane was right through to Victoria Road.In addition to this the number of lorries now coming through Old Oak Common has also increased since the changes to the traffic lights.This is a massive increase in volume and will potentially get worse once the Olympic lane is closed to traffic - stop/start gridlock will be the outcome.I bought a bike today to do my local shopping trips as it will pay for itself over the course of the Olympics.

Joanne Brianti ● 5174d

Worth keeping an eye on the air quality as there's a high pressure heading in next week, just in time for any possible gridlock, so any pollution will hang around and accumulate:Horn Lane: http://bit.ly/MvfB78

N Roberts ● 5174d

Whilst it is very reassuring to learn that Soldiers and police will be monitoring security at the Olympic sites it does make one wonder what on eaerth went wrong with G4S and it's inability to deliver.How long before the Directors of G4S are rewarded for their failure?It is unbelievable to hear that they still expect payment in full!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5174d

Look at it optimistically - can you imagine G4S getting a contract to provide a privatised police force?Can you visualise even Teresa May standing up in the Commons to announce that one? Or Kenneth Clarke? Or a newly elected police commissioner?Nope, thought not.

Sara Nathan ● 5174d

It is unbelievable to hear that they still expect payment in full!I thought I heard that G4S have to pay the police and military, plus penalties, which will run into the millions.Hope they don't get knighthoods or some similar honour.

Nicola Howard ● 5174d

That's right, Nicola. They will not be getting 'paid in full' at all. I don't know where that idea comes from.

Susan Kelly ● 5173d

Let's not forget that former Home Secretary at the time London 'won' the right to spend £10bn on hosting the olympics, John 'not fit for purpose' Reid, is now a director of G4S.Let's hope this signals the end of these dodgy ex-ministerial directorships and opaque government contracts.

N Roberts ● 5173d

Thanks Richard, useful to know.I see that they're trying to get the police to actually enforce the M4 Olympic lane.  Like they've nothing better to do!

Sarah Harris ● 5173d

See below for background. The person or organisation that awarded the security service contract for the Olympic Games was the Head of 'The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games' its Chairman being Lord Coe.It is therefore follows that he (and the staff who checked out the contract, and who should have been continually liaising with G4 to ensure all was well) who should be interrogated about the contract's failure. (as they should know the contract inside out) All complaints about the way this event is being run (implementing and staging) therefore need to be addressed to Lord Coe, Chairman of the Organising Committee, who had ultimate responsibility for the Event's success or otherwise.  Oh dear - no wonder he looked a little peakyon the TV last night.'G4S appointed official security service provider for 2012 Olympics  21 Mar 11Parent company G4S has announced that G4S Secure Solutions (UK) is the official security services provider and tier three sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The appointment has been made by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).Under the agreement, G4S UK will be responsible for recruiting, training and managing the 10,000-strong security workforce that will be tasked with securing the Games alongside colleagues from the police service and local authorities across all London 2012 competition and non-competition venues.The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games LOCOG) was created to oversee the staging of the Games after the success of the bid, and held their first board meeting on 3 October 2005.[19] The committee, chaired by Lord Coe, is in charge of implementing and staging the games, while the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is in charge of the construction of the venues and infrastructure.[19] In April 2006 the Olympic Delivery Authority board was established.[20]'

Dee Cook ● 5173d

I've been to two Olympic Games and these ones are going to be completely awesome. Just going into central London during the Games will be great, with the number of free events on, the influx of people from overseas, or a night out at somewhere like Heineken House at Ally Pally, or going to watch the cycling road race or the marathon, or just visiting the Olympic park or Hyde Park to watch on a big screen and get the atmosphere. There are plenty of tickets for some of the sports still available, a big chunk went on sale this week.If you go to any event, it will be something you remember for the rest of your life.I just cannot see the point of this nimby "why are they messing with the A40" attitude.This is 17 days in your lifetime, does it really matter that some roads get closed. Miss it and you won't get another chance to see an Olympics in London. I can't wait.

Ron Lewis ● 5172d

I am one of the lucky ones who doesn't have to take the tube everyday, and can allow extra time for road / bus trips, or walk. I don't enjoy large venues, so I will be watching some events at home on tele, and might even join crowds round a screen at the gym I go to for a few of them. Hopefully tele coverage will not be too Team GB centric. A family member suggested a trip to the seaside to see some of the boat racing (no entrance charge there!) Otherwise I might venture into town if there's a free cultural / arts event that looks interesting and the tube system is coping.  I will be very glad to see homes, shops and cafes in London displaying various flags as they've done in the past for international football events.I remember being in south london a few years back: It was a lovely summers day and streets were very quiet until Turkey scored a goal and loads of men ran out of a cafe cheering, waving their arms and jumping up and down. I watched with much jollyment!That's the kind of Olympics I would like to look forward to. ;-)

S Bradford ● 5172d

I heard Boris's message to tube users today - be afraid, be very afraid.He has an extraordinarily recogniseable voice - much more so than Cameron, Clegg, Osbourne etc.Rivalled maybe in the political/tory stakes by Hague but can't think who else comes close.

Sara Nathan ● 5172d

But what did he say?

Susan Kelly ● 5172d

The announcement itself was about a website to help commuters plan around the chaos of their journey during the Olympic weeks – although at first hurried listen he seemed to be saying, “Hi folks, this is the mayor. The Olympics are coming and they are going to be great, except for you. Whatever you do, stay off the trains.” The website, getaheadofthegames.com, is a decent idea, though hardly so astonishing as to require the bumptious tones of the London mayor at all public spaces. Transport for London may not be up to much, but station announcements it can do.

Nicola Howard ● 5172d

Nicola Howard ● 5172d

I rather prefer twentytwelve's "Way to Go" concept for branding transport in and around the games.Boris said nothing you haven't already heard a squillion times.

Sara Nathan ● 5171d

Way To Go was rather a good slogan.

Susan Kelly ● 5171d

Actually, I think going into central London during the games will be little different to going any other time of year, but with more tourists trying to wave their pink paper tickets over the Oyster card readers.  So, more like Christmas really.  But without the rain.  Maybe.No nimbyism at all here, just hate the spin the politicians and Coe try to put on the event about it being 'under budget' (only relative to the obscene budget they made up when they realised they needed to triple the original budget), being 'the most transparent games ever' (Jeremy Hunt), the fortune we are spending on security and the half-billion pound tax avoidance scheme for the sponsors, which Coe had the audacity on Today today to call 'British companies'.Watching a bit of the marathon will be no different to watching a bit of the London Marathon - the only difference this one has a different name.  That doesn't in itself make it memorable, unless it's the only time you've seen people running in London.So, yes, I'm in the '£10bn on a park and a stadium no one wants' camp.

N Roberts ● 5171d

It could all be a Millenium BugWe prepare like billy oh and then nothing happensPeople are leaving London in droves, the summer holidays (if not the summer) has arrived.We're all scared witless.It could be the roads are virtually empty apart for the beastly zil lanes

Sara Nathan ● 5171d

I vote that the Zil cars are not allowed to leave their Zil lanes and drive in ours. Penalty £260.

Susan Kelly ● 5170d

Our glorious Prime Minister has told MPs to use public transport to go to the games.  Can you see David using the tube.  If so, would he have a carriage to himself?  According to DC, MPs are not entitled to use the Zil lanes.  Needless to say MPs are not in favour of the idea.  Think Justine Greening should be made to suffer on a daily basis, by being squashed into a crowded tube and bus, then she would know what we have to suffer.We're all in it together?

Nicola Howard ● 5170d

"It could all be a Millenium BugWe prepare like billy oh and then nothing happens"Sara, I wish you wouldn't keep on about the Millennium (note spelling) Bug in this way, as though it was some sort of myth.  The Millennium Bug, or in practice thousands of them, did really exist.  It was only because of the preparation - mostly upgrading or replacing defective products - that in the event there were hardly any problems.  My own home-grown domestic accounts software, designed in 1989, had the bug, and unfortunately my efforts to eliminate it were not entirely successful.  So in the early months of 2000, I ran into a real live Millennium Bug!"It could be the roads are virtually empty apart for the beastly zil lanes"Huh!  Come and visit Chiswick High Road if you want to see where TfL has stored all the traffic.

Richard Jennings ● 5170d

Huh!  Come and visit Chiswick High Road if you want to see where TfL has stored all the traffic.Are you passing the buck, or have parking restrictions been lifted? Of course, it could be that the Toff Cars got lost on Horn Ln, and chanced their luck in Chiswick.  Millennium Bug on satnav!

Nicola Howard ● 5170d

I was commenting on Sara's reference to "virtually empty roads".  TfL's tinkering with traffic light phasing has resulted in all-day jams along Chiswick High Road, which TfL say is deliberate in order to keep the Olympic routes clear.  We have seen some Olympic BMWs stuck in the jams.I understand that many other boroughs are suffering too.  Any effects in Acton High Street?

Richard Jennings ● 5170d

Can't really comment on Acton High St, but Horn Ln, was it's usual congested state on Friday, heading towards the A40.  Could be a reason why the PM 10 level was 7/10.  I think the traffic lights on the High St., junction of Crown St., have been re-phased.  Have seen some Olympic cars on Horn Ln., heading towards the High St., but cannot see the point of them being there, as there is no advantage, it's not really a short cut say to Heathrow via Chiswick roundabout to the A4/M4, the A406 would be the way.  Also no point if heading to Park Ln. or, Stratford.  Can't imagine the dignitaries would want to shop or sightsee in dreary Acton. Why congest Chiswick High Rd further, it's bad enough at the best of times.  It's stop start, from Chiswick Terrace to Turnham Green.  Just hope TfL change everything back after the games.

Nicola Howard ● 5170d

Steer clear of the lights by North Acton station, opposite The Castle pub.  They've changed the phasing to allow only one car through from Willesden.  As a result, the traffic is backed up to Willesden Junction station!  Took me 25 minutes to clear these lights and that wasn't in rush hour.

Sarah Harris ● 5169d

Acton High Street unaffected.All I meant Richard about the Millenium Bug, is that the large scale catastrophes widely predicted just did not happen. Some of that is down to all the preparation which was partly generated by fear of catastrophe. I thik the same may happen here.I didn't mean that there was never any danger - just that it was probably exaggerated and the huge effort therefore invested ensured that - OK with some glitches - nothing really overwhelmingly dreadful happened.

Sara Nathan ● 5169d

The lights from Chase Road towards North Acton Station and Gypsy Corner have also been tweaked, although from Gypsy Corner towards Chase Road was near normal. Forget about getting a bus, they will all be stuck in a queue somewhere along their routes, so it will be quicker to walk.

Chris Bell ● 5169d

There have been signs everywhere telling us to plan ahead, but I find the official websites are appalling for finding real details. I once managed to find detailed large scale maps of the areas where I live and will most likely need to travel, including especially the A40 and A406 between Wembley (Brent), Hanger Lane (Ealing) and White City, which listed additional times that junctions may be restricted, but usually links just go round in circles, ending up at useless graphics and vague wooly details. Some turns are already signposted as banned, but I would like to know which may be banned from as early as tomorrow.

Chris Bell ● 5169d

We're doomed, doomed!Wouldn't it be great if we want to go to Wembley, only to find that once we have got to Hanger Lane, you cant use the A406 or Ealing Road.  Oh well, a quick illegal manoeuvre, down to Park Royal, sorry not allowed to cross over the A406, turn round, through Harlesden, for the Harrow Road, only to find Wembley High Street closed. I wonder what the odds are by going through Willesden, along Dudden Hill, Blackbird Hill, Forty Lane etc. Can anyone recall if us suffers of mayhem were consulted for the inconvenience we are being caused?  Bah Humbug!

Nicola Howard ● 5169d

Doomed indeed - especially now they've closed a lane on the A40 at Savoy circus because of a dangerous building, whatever that means.At least the weather is good if we do have to walk everywhere!

Sarah Harris ● 5168d

Hey, bikes are so clearly now the way forward, guys.. (Ask Bradley!) On y va!!

Cathy Johns ● 5168d

And the 'revised' timetable for the London Overground is a joke.  It merely says trains will run between every 5-15 minutes.  Bit more specific for Friday so that people can try and get home after the opening ceremony, but for the rest of the time, useless.  I too have found the official web sites useless - TFL's plan ahead site no help at all as to what is running etc.

Nina Battleday ● 5168d

TFL's plan ahead site no help at all as to what is running etc......athletes?  Have a dodgy burger or hot dog and, one could be running.Lost all interest in the games, we have been made prisoners and, have to pay for the privilege, that walnut whip.

Nicola Howard ● 5168d

The National Rail timetable site is very clear about the Overground. There will be a quarter-hourly service Stratford-Richmond, with extra trains running between those but terminating at Willesden Junction. In other words eight trains an hour out of Stratford - which looks like a pretty good service to me (and the first record of the games, in the eyes of this long-standing user of the North London Line!). Last train to Acton is 1am.Doubtless there will be glitches, and maybe the schedule will get knocked about a bit, but it doesn't look like anything much to complain about.

Steve Donnelly ● 5167d

Unless they have totally changed the timetable, those that do not go to Richmond should go on to terminate at Clapham Junction, not Willesden Junction.

Chris Bell ● 5167d

Last train going right through to Richmond, and therefore Acton, is, according to the timetable 23.52, even on the opening night.  Later trains are, as you say, terminating at Clapham or Willesden.

Nina Battleday ● 5167d

I thought I would share some nuggets I've found:1) I am getting emails from TfL re impact of Olympics almost daily. I don't remember signing up for these but they're quite useful. 2) Have just discovered their facebook page for facebook alerts (so will give this a try), and a twitter feed for each tube line (though i dont use twitter) and a tfl youtube site - which isn't so good. Search social media on the TfL site if you're interested.3) Meanwhile I found a traffic camera site a while back (when M4 was closed). Not every traffic camera is included (eg nothing for Gypsy Corner) or working (esp M25), but Hanger Lane cameras are quite useful; here's the link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/london/trafficcameras4) And a highways information site which tells you about motorway delays and motorway roadworks: http://www.trafficengland.com/map.aspx?long0=-153.02732193009462&lat0=3107.724938251105&long1=16.731196588423927&lat1=3034.7776501155117&ct=true5) And finally, a red amber green traffic map of london roads showing which have heavy medium and light traffic on them. Not exactly sure how this works, or how they define red 'heavy' traffic streets, but could be useful: http://www.londontraffic.org/Enjoy!

S Bradford ● 5167d

A couple more:6) This page highlights which tube and rly stations will be busy on which days (use the slide rule for dates):http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/7) And this one highlights which roads in central london will be closed and when (using the slide rule for the dates):http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/travelinaffectedareas/city/london-temporary-road-changes.html 

S Bradford ● 5166d

I received an email today, but by the time it arrived I was already the other side of London (but it is nice to see what I could have avoided)

Chris Bell ● 5166d

Another one: 8) Time Out London has written a cheatsheat that covers more info, and highlights that you can view grids showing predicted delays on key tube stations (which I didn't know about). Example shown is London Bridge:http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2012/07/27/get-ahead-of-the-games-in-5-minutes-with-our-cheatsheet/

S Bradford ● 5164d

I've signed up for email updates from TFL which include a link to a map on the Get Ahead of the Games website - this shows areas and stations that will be badly affected by Olympic events. I have to go into town tomorrow and found it very useful.

Lorna Dodd ● 5164d

Went there yesterday and got the (punctual) 23.22 train back. I have to say that I was enormously impressed by the smoothness of the operation at the station; no stationary queues, just a very orderly procession, with the crowd split up according to which train/tube people wanted. I'm sure it won't run without a hitch all games, but respect, as they say, is due...

Steve Donnelly ● 5161d

"I received an email today, but by the time it arrived I was already the other side of London"If that's the same as the emails I get from TfL, they are issued in mid-afternoon and relate to the expected trnsport impact for the following day, based on the time and place of scheduled events for that day.  So you can use it to plan tomorrow's journeys.The real-time traffic map (No. 5 in S Bradford's useful list) is in fact a standard feature of Google maps.  It's one of the options that you can activate using the controls near the top-right corner of the map.

Richard Jennings ● 5159d

Yes, I'm getting the TfL emails mid-afternoon for the following day. Glad to have them.

Susan Kelly ● 5159d

Yes, that first email was received on the Wednesday afternoon, which was the first day the games lanes were supposed to be in full operation although before the opening ceremony, and they were certainly in operation along the A40 and the north/south route through Park Lane and Victoria, although the worst of the congestion was on the return journey.

Chris Bell ● 5159d

The effect on London businesses seems to be the unpredicted thing - they say they are suffering horribly. Apparently especially true in central London not around the venues.I don't know if that's true in Acton too - but I went to Bombay bistro for lunch yesterday for more or less the first time and there was only one other table occupied even though they offer a set meal for £5.99. The Thai place opposite seemed fuller (set lunch £4.99)A lot of people seem to have left town - Chiswick is really quiet too.

Sara Nathan ● 5156d