The O2

The transport plan for The O2 was hailed as an 'industry leader' at last week's London Transport Awards. AEG Europe, owners and operators of The O2, and Greenwich Council were awarded Transport Project Partnership of the Year at the ceremony hosted by radio and TV presenter, Grant Stott and held at the Novotel in West London on Thursday night.

The joint award was won for the dedicated travel plan developed for The O2 as well as the bespoke travel guides created for the Jubilee Line transport replacement strategy. The collaboration beat competition from the Woolwich DLR extension and a new TfL CCTV camera sharing initiative.

AEG were tasked by Greenwich Council with developing a specific travel plan which included encouraging visitors and staff to travel to the venue on the Greenwich Peninsula by sustainable non-car based models. The results of the first monitoring report in June 2009 showed that this was achieved by 75% of customers and 90% of staff.

Chaired by AEG, a bi-monthly travel forum involving representatives from Greenwich Council, London Underground, London Buses as well as local stakeholders was set up to consult on and action transport developments affecting The O2 and its visitors.

Key to the success of the project was AEG's communication strategy which incorporated a detailed transport section on The O2's website. Customers with tickets to a forthcoming event were sent timely 'See you Soon' emails providing travel information to the venue. During Jubilee Line closures essential alternative travel details were provided to ticketholders as well as being included on the TfL journey planner. The broadcast network within The O2, including the scrolling digital screen inside the arena, was set up to display up to date travel information.

Thames Clippers, London's leading commuter passenger boat service acquired by AEG in 2006, was noted for being instrumental in The O2's transport strategy. The service not only provides direct sailings from Waterloo to The O2 on arena event nights it also operates the replacement shuttle services between the venue and East India Pier for links to the DLR when the Jubilee Line is undergoing upgrade works. Other contributing factors included the introduction of new bus routes from North Greenwich and controlled parking and drop off zones set up on the Peninsula.

The submitted plan was summed up as an "impressive travel plan backed up with effective travel information, communication strategies and demand management strategies."

Geoff Symonds, Head of Transport Strategy, AEG Europe, said: "We are delighted to receive this award in partnership with Greenwich Council. The O2 travel plan has clearly demonstrated what can be achieved by working closely with our key transport stakeholders even with the challenge of the Jubilee Line upgrade. We believe that providing real choice for customers and communicating these effectively has been the key to the success of the transport strategy. We look forward to improving this further with an enhanced Jubilee Line in 2010 and exploring much needed cross river links."

Cllr Peter Brooks, deputy leader of Greenwich Council, said, "We have a strong track record in Greenwich of working with major businesses to encourage more people to use public transport. We have worked over many years to ensure that Greenwich Peninsula is served by excellent public transport links - not just the Jubilee Line, but buses and river services as well. This award underlines the success of The O2 not just as an entertainment venue, but in its ability to work with the local council to bring the vast majority of its visitors to the venue by public transport."

At the same ceremony Thames Clippers was 'highly recommended' for the Public Transport Operator of the Year award just being pipped to the post by London Underground.

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