Transport operators must use the valuable lesson in coordinating services during the 2012 Olympics for the future, a passenger watchdog is urging.

TfL “got it right” with highly visible staff at main line and Underground stations to help passengers and spectators get to sports venues.

But it is essential that the knowledge and help given to the travelling public is retained as a transport legacy, London TravelWatch insists.

The passenger organisation’s Chair, Sharon Grant, said: “We urged TfL and transport operators during the Olympics planning to join up their operations—and they ran a seamless public service.

“There is now an opportunity to benefit as a permanent Olympic transport legacy.”

Her comments follow last week’s TravelWatch Board meeting at its new Tower Hill headquarters. TfL acknowledged at the meeting how the passenger organisation had helped shape a coordinated public transport between bus and train operators during the Games.

One of the operators, C2C trains at Fenchurch Street, topped Britain’s rail industry punctuality league table during the Olympics with almost 99 per cent service running on time. The company has since applied to the Transport Department for renewal of the Essex Thameside franchise for the next 15 years.