Maidenhead railway station to serve Olympic visitors

About 30,000 spectators per day are expected to arrive in Eton Dorney

Maidenhead railway station is to become one of the key access points for visitors to boating events at Eton Dorney Lake during the 2012 Olympics.

The station has rail links with Windsor and Eton Riverside and also Slough - which is to receive a £2.5m upgrade to give disabled people better access.

All three stations have been designated as key arrival and departure points by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council welcomed the ODA's move.

Major crowds

The railway stations will now be officially promoted by the Games organisers, with shuttle buses transferring spectators between the stations and the rowing venue, a spokesman said.

Councillor Simon Dudley, the local authority's lead member for adult and community services, said: "This is good news for the Royal Borough, which now boasts two of the three official Olympic venue railway stations in this area.

"We anticipate large numbers of people coming into our towns and there is tremendous potential for local businesses to benefit.

"It is particularly good for Maidenhead as we move forward with our plans to regenerate the town."

The council said it also "in discussion with the ODA about the use of a number of sites as temporary park and ride schemes to serve Eton Dorney during the Games".

About 30,000 spectators per day are expected to arrive in the Eton Dorney area for the rowing events.