Clarion Events, organizer of February’s ICE Totally Gaming trade show at London’s ExCeL Centre, announced a plan to accommodate attendees arriving by rail at the House Docklands Light Railway station, which will be shut down for 12 months as part of the London Crossrail development project.
Attendees will be able to use the Royal Victoria stop, which is 650 meters from ExCeL. Organizers will provide a fleet of buses and coaches throughout each of the three days of the show to transport visitors to the main ExCeL registration entrance.
“We have apportioned a separate and ring-fenced budget to provide free transportation and appoint a team, led by ICE Event Director, Greg Saint, which will be responsible for organizing the logistics and for communicating the changes to our loyal community of visitors throughout the world,” said Kate Chambers, managing director of Clarion’s Gaming Division.
“In 2012-13, we handled the move from west London to ExCeL, and we will be using the same skill set and attention to detail to ensure the smooth and trouble-free movement of visitors from Royal Victoria to ExCeL.
“My team has been in close contact with their counterparts working for both ExCeL and Transport for London. We have agreed that liaison staff will be on hand at key points en route and, for those not wanting to use the coach service, there will be a sign-posted walk which brings visitors up the approach to the very front of ExCeL. We have timed the walk at seven minutes. We will be keeping the industry fully informed of these changes and working with our exhibitors to ensure we transport ICE attendees to ExCeL as quickly and as efficiently as possible.”
The closure of Custom House makes way for the upgrade and implementation of the new Elizabeth line, which will enable visitors to travel from Heathrow airport to ExCeL in less than 45 minutes.
