Transport experts describe scale of the 2022 games and what it means for operators in the UK
Operators had the chance to find out more about transport opportunities up for grabs at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, in a seminar at The Theatre.
Alan Gooch, Transport Director (interim), Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games said that there will 19 different sports at the games and not all of them will be at Alexander Stadium. Others include women’s cricket, at Edgbaston, mountain biking at Cannock Chase, Triathalon in Sutton Coldfield and lawn bowls in Leamington Spa.
He says: “That’s a lot of mileage to cover in terms of transport.”
Although the games only last 12 days, he explained that there will be a very busy intense transport operation for approximately 30 days.
It starts with the opening of the Commonwealth Games Village which will be at Perry Bar and athletes will be arriving from Birmingham International Airport and other points of entry. They will then be going out to training venues and competition venues and will need transport.
“The opening ceremony is a massive transport challenge in its own right,” he says. “There will be a lot of VIPs and international and protected persons that we need to cater for.
“Then after the games there will be, possibly the biggest spike in transport demands, when the athletes, the media and officials all leave.”
Mr Gooch said 270 vehicles will be needed to support the games family, 420 vehicles will be needed for spectators and 140 for West Midlands Police.
“But while we’re doing this we’ve got to keep Birmingham and the West Midlands moving,” he says. “And still operate, so the games can be a success for everybody involved.”
Pete Bond, Director of Integrated Network Services TfWM spoke about the Draft Games Strategic Transport plan which is available to view online www.tfwm.org.uk/the-draft-games-strategic-transport-plan.
“Buses and coaches are hugely important and pivotal in making the commonwealth games the success that it needs to be,” he says.
“And of course, this is predicted to be a clean and green public transport games and the first of its kind.”
The timeline for procurement was shown, with the first initial contact with operators taking place at CBUK. A pre-qualification discussion will take place around January/February next year with more dialogue taking place in the spring, followed by the initial tender process going out.
Contracts will be awarded in September/October 2020.
