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| Travel warning issued to Londoners as Paralympics enters second week | Travel warning issued to Londoners as Paralympics enters second week |
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| The capital's transport authorities have called on Londoners not to underestimate the Paralympics' effect as the Games enter their second week, warning that the system is likely to be as busy as during the Olympics. | The capital's transport authorities have called on Londoners not to underestimate the Paralympics' effect as the Games enter their second week, warning that the system is likely to be as busy as during the Olympics. |
| Many schools reopen on Monday and large numbers of commuters return to work after holidays, pushing the underlying, rush-hour traffic to much higher levels than in the summer. In addition, now that athletics is back in full swing at the stadium, as many spectators will be travelling to the Olympic Park as during the second week of the Games in August. | Many schools reopen on Monday and large numbers of commuters return to work after holidays, pushing the underlying, rush-hour traffic to much higher levels than in the summer. In addition, now that athletics is back in full swing at the stadium, as many spectators will be travelling to the Olympic Park as during the second week of the Games in August. |
| Despite a smooth start, Transport for London (TfL) is also anticipating more logistical challenges with more large groups of spectators – including schoolchildren and many with additional mobility needs – expected to travel. | Despite a smooth start, Transport for London (TfL) is also anticipating more logistical challenges with more large groups of spectators – including schoolchildren and many with additional mobility needs – expected to travel. |
| Disruption is, however, expected to be limited to the City and key routes to east London, as fewer venues are used than during the Olympics. The Paralympic Route Network will operate throughout the week, with Games lanes reserved for athletes and officials operating variably, but along a smaller length of 8.7 miles of roads in east London. | Disruption is, however, expected to be limited to the City and key routes to east London, as fewer venues are used than during the Olympics. The Paralympic Route Network will operate throughout the week, with Games lanes reserved for athletes and officials operating variably, but along a smaller length of 8.7 miles of roads in east London. |
| A TfL spokeswoman said: "The Paralympics has unique and different challenges, and working life is resuming and schools are going back. | A TfL spokeswoman said: "The Paralympics has unique and different challenges, and working life is resuming and schools are going back. |
| "We're still encouraging people to 'get ahead of the Games' and not to underestimate the effect they could have on the transport network and the city more generally. People can't assume it will be business as usual." | "We're still encouraging people to 'get ahead of the Games' and not to underestimate the effect they could have on the transport network and the city more generally. People can't assume it will be business as usual." |
| On the busiest days of the Paralympics, about 215,000 people will travel to the Olympic Park in Stratford. Routes on the Jubilee and Central underground lines and the Docklands light railway will be under the most pressure. | On the busiest days of the Paralympics, about 215,000 people will travel to the Olympic Park in Stratford. Routes on the Jubilee and Central underground lines and the Docklands light railway will be under the most pressure. |
| Temporary wheelchair ramps are in place at many stations and 66 have step-free access. Campaign groups have urged ministers to make them a permanent legacy of the Games. Lianna Etkind, of Transport for All, said: "It would be ludicrous for TfL to spend thousands on installing the ramps, only to rip them out again afterwards." | Temporary wheelchair ramps are in place at many stations and 66 have step-free access. Campaign groups have urged ministers to make them a permanent legacy of the Games. Lianna Etkind, of Transport for All, said: "It would be ludicrous for TfL to spend thousands on installing the ramps, only to rip them out again afterwards." |
| TfL said it was not planning to keep the ramps as it could not guarantee they would be consistently available and speedily deployed when passengers required them. | TfL said it was not planning to keep the ramps as it could not guarantee they would be consistently available and speedily deployed when passengers required them. |
| Train companies and Network Rail are posting hundreds of extra staff at stations in London and the south-east, with specially trained teams to assist passengers. However, disabled passengers are still advised to book assistance in advance to ensure they can travel. | Train companies and Network Rail are posting hundreds of extra staff at stations in London and the south-east, with specially trained teams to assist passengers. However, disabled passengers are still advised to book assistance in advance to ensure they can travel. |
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