Bigger than the 2012 Olympics: operation to handle millions of mourners and world leaders SOS

TRANSPORT chiefs face a challenge "bigger than the Olympics" with "millions" of people expected to travel to central London for the Queen's lyingin-state and funeral.

- Ross Lydall

Transport for London commissioner Andy Byford said the organisation wanted to pay tribute to the Queen by running the best possible service despite the unprecedented pressures - and to thank her for unveiling the Elizabeth line, which turned out to be one of her last engagements.

He revealed that he had written to union leaders on learning of the Queen's death last Thursday to ask for their help and received immediate guarantees of their "full support".

Mr Byford said: "It is the biggest challenge that TfL has ever faced. We are going by Government estimates. The estimate for the queueing - just the lying-in-state service is 750,000, which is a huge number. In terms of the overall additional numbers, we are talking millions of people. Already we are seeing quite an uplift in affected stations. Green Park has already seen a 10 per cent uplift in its throughput.