London Marathon travel news: DLR, Tube, rail and bus routes for runners and spectators

Runners approach the Cutty Sark in an earlier Virgin London Marathon
Getty Images
Martin Coulter20 April 2018

London Marathon runners and spectators can breathe a sigh of relief after a planned four-day DLR strike threatening travel chaos was called off.

The walkout was suspended following a last minute breakthrough in negotiations between members of the Royal, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and DLR operator KeolisAmey.

Industrial action was due to start at 4am on Friday, affecting thousands of London Marathon runners and supporters.

The RMT confirmed on Friday the scheduled strike action would not go ahead after "significant progress" was made in talks with the company.

Here's our guide to travelling to the marathon for runners and spectators via DLR, Tube, rail and bus.

Over 40,000 people are set to compete in the big race (PA)
PA Archive/PA Images

How do runners get to the marathon by train?

For competitors, the easiest way to get to the three start areas (Blue Start, Red Start and Green Start) is to travel by train.

Blue Start or Good For Age runners should travel to Blackheath station, Red Start runners should travel to Greenwich station, the Cutty Sark or Maze Hill station, and Green Start runners should travel to Maze Hill station.

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Travel on all of the above trains is free to competitors but you must present your running number to a member of station staff to take advantage of this offer.

How do runners get to the marathon by bus?

The 188 bus - passing through Russell Square, Waterloo and Elephant & Castle - will get you to Cutty Sark and Maze Hill.

The 386 bus also calls at Blackheath, Maze Hill and Greenwich station. Alternatively, the 129 bus stops at both Greenwich and the Cutty Sark.

Coaches may also be provided from central London by some running clubs and groups. More information can be found here.

TfL recommends following @TfLTravelAlerts, @TfLBusAlerts and @LondonDLR on Twitter for all the latest updates.

Armed police officers will be on duty throughout the run 
REUTERS

Where should spectators go?

Organisers have released a series of maps online, including key information - such as where the nearest pubs can be found.

There are dozens of good pubs for supporters to take refuge, alongside tourist hotspots such as Canary Wharf, the Tower of London and Westminster Bridge.

A map handed out by Virgin London marathon organisers
Virgin London Marathon

Marathon bosses advise friends and family to avoid crowded areas, such as Greenwich town centre, Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge.

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Supporters are advised not to accompany their loved ones to the start line, advising they split up earlier.

The busiest stations

Bank

Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich

Greenwich

Limehouse 

Shadwell

Tower Gateway

Westferry

A Virgin Marathon spokesman said: "All runners are entitled to free travel to the start on Southeastern trains from Charing Cross, Waterloo East, Cannon Street and Victoria.

"If you were to say goodbye at any one of these stations, then it’s an easy transfer onto the London Underground to make your way onto the marathon route."

River bus firm Thames Clipper is also offering to pick spectators up at Greenwich pier and take them up the river to Greenland (Surrey Quays) pier at the 10 mile mark.

Access to Tower Gateway, Shadwell, Greenwich, Limehouse, Westferry and Cutty Stark stations is likely to change intermittently to prevent overcrowding. Please follow signs or directions from DLR staff.

Will there be road closures?

Roads around the route will be closed at 7am on Sunday, and access to and from the area will not be possible until they reopen at 2pm.

Any residents who need to leave their houses by car on the day should do so by 7am. If you have specific issues you should call the helpdesk on 020 7902 0200, although this number will not be operational on the day of the race.

Limited parking spaces will be available in Blackheath, though organisers strongly advise competitors not to travel by car.

Why was the strike cancelled?

RMT members had been locked in a dispute with KeolisAmey in a dispute over outsourcing.

Although the walkout looked set to wreak havoc on Sunday's event, the union's general secretary Mick Cash said progress had been made on "key issues".

He said: "After thirteen days of intensive talks RMT's negotiating team has been able to secure significant progress on the key issues of the threat to jobs and conditions from outsourcing and a range of grievances around the principles of workplace justice."