Olympics Torch

Dear Operator

The purpose of this e-mail is to advise on Events/Traffic situations surrounding the Olympic Torch and the ParaOlympic Flame Event in Suffolk from a Passenger Transport outlook.

The Route and times of the Torch passing through Suffolk can be viewed through the following link:-

http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map
Please note the Torch will be in two modes.--Torch Bearer and Convoy.  Convoy is when the torch is being moved from A to B in a vehicle with outriders etc.

The Olympic Torch will first arrive in Suffolk from the Great Yarmouth direction and into Lowestoft on  the morning of Thursday 5th July 2012.

There will be events surrounding the Torch that morning in Lowestoft.

Operators can expect traffic delays and demand for Public Transport should be considerable. Commercial bus operators may need to consider capacity issues.

Beccles and Bungay will not be visited by the flame.

The Torch will then travel through Coastal Suffolk (Including Southwold, Wrentham, Saxmundham, Leiston, Aldeburgh, Woodbridge and Felixstowe). Expect Traffic Problems.

In the late afternoon and early evening the Flame will be arriving in Ipswich and will travelling by boat around Fox's Boat Yard area, the Orwell Bridge and into the Wet Dock. Ipswich evening of Thursday 5th July 2012.

Huge numbers of people are expected in Ipswich that evening and there will be major celebrations centred at the main event in Christchurch Park.

In the late afternoon early evening Public Bus services and Park and Ride are expected to be operating normally to bring people into the town. These services are of course very depleted for the evening return, unless operators react.

The flame leaves early the following morning and initially leaves Suffolk in the Colchester direction.

    

The Torch then comes back into the County mid afternoon on Saturday 7th July in Haverhill.

Late afternoon Saturday 7th July the Torch will be in Bury St Edmunds.

Much of the surrounding area will not have a Torch visit. Towns such as Diss, Brandon and Thetford will not be on the Torch route.

Commercial service bus route operators may well need to consider capacity requirements on their existing services.

District Councils are the local 'patrons' of the Olympic Flame. There may well be a Park and Ride organised for this event by St Edmundsbury District Council.

Early evening events on Saturday 7th July will be in Newmarket, where a carnival will also be taking place.  

Paralympics Torch event Evening of Friday 24th August -Needham Market.

The Suffolk Para Olympic Torch event will be at just one location -Needham Market lake.

This will be the major Suffolk event held at this location. There may well be a number of visitors with mobility difficulties. Public Buses do not operate in the area in the evenings; access and practicality of the rail service to and from Needham Market is very limited. At times Needham Market High Street will be closed as will Coddenham Road (Railway Bridge) and other roads.

Suffolk County Council and Suffolkonboard.com web sites are likely to be providing and collating information relative to transport etc. 

Operators are alerted to these events:-

• To be aware of potential traffic issues.
• To be aware of Public Transport issues.
• Schools may wish to hire vehicles to visit locations, in the North of the County.
• Demand to hire vehicles which provide wheelchair facilities may be particular great on Friday 24th August as well as the other events.

I hope this is helpful.

David Gibbs and Andrew Gee.

Senior Network Planners -Suffolk County Council.