Following a great Olympic Games, London and the UK is getting ready to welcome the world once again and host the Paralympic Games.

Transport for London (TfL) has set out its travel plans and advice for the Paralympics, with businesses and the travelling public reminded to continue to plan their travel and avoid the busiest times and places – particularly by retiming their journey – using the tools and information available at GetAheadoftheGames.com.

The Paralympic Games, although smaller in scale than the Olympics, are the second largest sporting event in the world and transport to and around venues will be busier than usual.

The Games begin with the Paralympic Torch Relay in London and Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Park on Wednesday, August 29, and end on Sunday, September 9, with the Paralympic Marathons in central London and Closing Ceremony, again at the Olympic Park.

‘Live Sites’ will also show Paralympic sport and provide entertainment at Trafalgar Square and at Potters Field by City Hall.

The second week of the Paralympic Games is expected to be busier than the first, as many schools return from summer holidays. Other events, such as Premier League Football matches, BBC Proms in the Park and the Thames Festival are also happening in London during the Paralympics.

On September 10, Team GB’s greatest ever team of Olympians and Paralympians will be honoured with a parade through central London.

Many Paralympic athletes, officials and the world’s media will also be departing on this day, meaning routes between central London and Heathrow will be busier than usual.

The Paralympic venues are situated in the east of London, at the Olympic Park, Excel, North Greenwich Arena, Greenwich Park and the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich, as well as out of London venues, Eton Dorney, Weymouth & Portland and Brands Hatch.

As a result, the impact on the roads and public transport network around London’s West End will be much less than during the Olympics.

However, at certain times and in certain places, roads and the public transport network in the City of London financial district and in the east of London are expected to be much busier than normal.

On most days, the number of people travelling to the Olympic Park will be as many as travelled there during the Olympics, with up to 215,000 spectators expected.

TfL anticipates that on the public transport network, the busiest times will be between 7.30-9.30 and from 16.00-19.00 each day on the following lines:

• Jubilee Line: from Waterloo to Stratford;
• Central Line: from Holborn to Stratford;
• Docklands Light Railway (DLR): across the network.

Some key national rail stations, such as King’s Cross St Pancras, London Bridge, Paddington, Waterloo and Victoria are also expected to be busier than normal around these times.

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