London touts enhanced transportation system in bid for 2012 Olympics

A massively improved transport system for London was unveiled in January, featuring enhanced Tube and mainline service, a key part of the capital’s Olympic bid. London’s bidding team says more than $30 billion is being spent on upgrading transport links before 2012, according to The Evening Standard. This will allow about 320,000 people an hour to go in and out of Stratford, site of the Olympic Park. In addition, more than $455 million will be spent upgrading the Jubilee line. Upgrades include a new signaling system, to be completed in 2009, which will increase train speeds by 20% and boost frequency by nearly twice as much as current runs. New trains designated for the Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link are also expected, which will transport visitors from central London to the Olympic Games at 100 mph, said the Standard. In an appeal to the International Olympic Committee, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: “Give us the chance to host the world’s most important event here in the world’s greatest capital city.”