Check Before You Travel this Weekend
TfL staff working round the clock to keep London moving
Transport for London is advising Londoners to check before they travel this weekend, as snow reaches our city.
TfL says it has joined forced with London Councils - the body representing all 32 of London's boroughs and the City of London - to keep London moving.
The organisations have co-ordinated plans, developed alongside emergency services and Network Rail, designed to keep the transport system and a network of key routes open throughout severe weather.
This includes roads and footways around bus garages and stations, hospitals, railway stations and police, fire and ambulance stations across London.
More than 89,000 tonnes of salt have been stockpiled by TfL and London boroughs to ensure that all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, can continue to get around the capital.
A fleet of road gritters will be deployed to keep roads clear and arrangements are in place to enable boroughs to share salt stores with each other should they require them.
The pan-London Strategic Salt Reserve of 27,000 tonnes, which has not been called into use during the past two winters, is also available should supplies become low.
TfL and London borough staff will be working around the clock on the Tube, bus, rail and road networks to minimise disruption during freezing conditions.
De-icing trains are in operation, keeping tracks as clear as possible, platforms are being gritted to keep them safe for customers and points - the mechanical parts that operate junctions on the network - are being checked.
Network Rail, whose network is used by some Tube services on the District and Bakerloo lines, and who manage all of the infrastructure on which London Overground services operate, are also working closely with TfL to ready the network.
Londoners and visitors to the city are urged to "check before you travel", particularly during the cold weather period, and to allow extra journey time where necessary.
Passengers can check before travelling by visiting Live Travel News or follow @tfltravelalerts, @tfltrafficnews and @tflbusalerts on Twitter.
Information will also be available via posters, leaflets and "service information" boards at Tube stations or by calling the London Travel Info 24hrs telephone helpline on 0843 222 1234.
Londoners can also report road defects such as potholes or damaged traffic signals here or call TfL on 0845 305 1234.
January 18, 2013
