Plans must be put in place now to ensure that the city's rail network can cope with the huge increase in demand around this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games, said Caroline Lucas today.

The Pavilion MP, who was briefed by the Department of Transport and Transport for London this week about public transport services during the Games, has written to Southern Trains and First Capital Connect to seek assurances that Brighton and Hove rail services will have sufficient capacity to serve the needs of both commuters and visitors.

Caroline Lucas MP said:

"With the Olympics and Paralympics now only a few months away, I'm concerned that the transport discussions so far have focused very much on London and on behaviour change from passengers, rather than on enhancing services to meet increased demand.

"There will be a huge increase in rail passengers around events like the Box Hill road cycle race and the torch relay which comes to Brighton and Hove on July 16^th - and for visitors to the Olympiad's Stories of the World project.

"I want to know what FCC and Southern are doing to address the disruption and overcrowding on train services between London and Brighton that will doubtless occur as a result of these events.

"The train operators must also show more flexibility for passengers wanting to carry bikes on trains, given that commuters are being asked to avoid the London Underground and instead walk or cycle when in the capital."

The MP continued:

"Brighton and Hove is one of the South East's prime tourist locations, and if we're to make sure that the city benefits from the buzz around the Games, we need guarantees that the needs of both commuters and visitors will be properly met."

ENDS