Special rail fares for Olympics on sale

Special rail fares for London 2012 Olympic spectators went on sale today.

Available from a special website, the tickets cover every rail station and every Games venue.

The 2012 Games Train Tickets are designed to be flexible and will allow spectators to change the time they return should an event be unexpectedly rescheduled, or if they simply wish to remain longer.

They can be used by event ticket holders to travel to and from London and all cities hosting Games events: Coventry, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Weymouth.

Ticketed spectators travelling to events in and around London will also receive a Games Travelcard with their Games event ticket, allowing travel within inner London and areas of outer London.

Spectators with event tickets to venues around London - the rowing at Eton Dorney in Berkshire, the canoe slalom at Lee Valley White Water Centre in Hertfordshire and the mountain biking at Hadleigh Farm in Essex - will also receive a Travelcard, and will be able to travel on national rail services between London and the recommended stations for those venues at no additional charge.

Train companies have also worked with Network Rail (NR) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) to draw up a special Olympic and Paralympic timetable providing thousands more services, running later in the evening and starting earlier.

This will ensure that more than eight million people are able to get to and from London 2012 Games venues. There will also be more maximum-length trains, and extended peak-hour periods offering more-frequent trains.

Association of Train Operating Companies chief executive Michael Roberts said: "The rail industry is committed to offering fast, flexible, reliable and affordable travel for the millions of spectators expected at Olympic and Paralympic events.

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said: "For millions of people London 2012 will be the event of their year and our rail network will be on the frontline, carrying the public to where they need to be at the right time.

"I'm pleased the industry has come together to offer some great-value fares with added flexibility and the ability to book a full year in advance. This will help spectators to make the very most of their trip to the Games."

The website - nationalrailgamestravel.co.uk - includes a lowest fare finder tool that will search for the cheapest ticket available for spectators' chosen journeys.

For those without access to the internet, tickets and passenger assistance can be booked through a dedicated call centre (0844 693 2898).