New online tool to help freight operators plan their journeys during London 2012

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new interactive online tool to help the freight and logistics industries plan their journeys during the London 2012 Games.

TfL’s Freight Journey Planner, available at www.tfl.gov.uk/2012freight calculates the most appropriate route for operators to take during the Games based on the date and time of day, and the vehicle’s dimensions.

It complements the range of advice and support already available on TfL’s website for freight operators in advance of this summer’s Games.

The planner, developed by PIE Mapping, currently includes information about the Olympic and Paralympic Route Networks (ORN/PRN) and shows the closest legal stopping points to the driver’s destination.

More information, including the Road Events routes and the timings for the traffic management restrictions that will be in place around venues, will be added by the end of June.

From July, live data will be fed into the planner every five minutes, ensuring it provides new routeing options based on the latest information on road traffic incidents, congestion levels, temporary road closures, and any other road restrictions.

London’s Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy said: “Ensuring the freight industry has up-to-the minute information to help plan their routes during Games time has been a major focus for TfL.

“The challenges surrounding deliveries this summer are considerable but TfL has been working hard to ensure that operators have all the advice and support they need to continue running smoothly and profitably throughout the Games.

“The Freight Journey Planner is the latest tool in a suite of information that will help operators plan the most appropriate routes for their drivers depending on their particular requirements.”

TfL’s support programme for freight operators in advance of the Games has included offering tailored advice and support to London’s major wholesale markets and individual retailers in transport ‘hotspot’ areas, organising a regular ‘freight forum’ for senior industry representatives, developing a code of practice for out-of-hours deliveries, and publishing a wealth of information online including top tips for operators and road ‘hotspot’ maps for each day of the Games.

In addition, over 2,200 people from 1,350 businesses have attended one of TfL’s free freight workshops held both in London and in towns and cities across the country that have a concentration of businesses supplying the capital.