It also recommends taking trains instead of using aircraft for short distances, and says teleconferencing could replace inessential business flights.

BBC: Pollution warning on holiday flights

"I think in parts of the country, taking high-speed trains will be like taking buses in the future, " she said.

CNN: China's high-speed trains attract frustrated fliers

Paulo Roberto Costa, its downstream director, envisages trains taking soyabeans, corn and iron ore from the interior to the ports and returning with oil.

ECONOMIST: Brazil's north-east

This means that aside from the major ceremonies in Olympic Park, visitors will be traveling in all directions to reach their desired venues, taking the burden off of eastbound trains.

FORBES: Connect

His last two movies: Unstoppable and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 both involved trains and trains were a good metaphor for the kind of filmmaking Scott did.

FORBES: Tony Scott: One Of The Best Popcorn Directors Of All Time

Farah will continue to train at altitude in Kenya and Font Romeu in France - where Paula Radcliffe also trains - and insists he is not taking a major gamble with the London Olympics only 17 months away.

BBC: Mo Farah changes coach to assist Olympic preparation

Despite trains to and from London traditionally being packed with thousands of football fans when major matches are taking place at Wembley Stadium, an FA spokesman said "only a minimal amount of fans" used trains.

BBC: Wembley Stadium

Southern said its trains were now more reliable, work was taking place on the rail infrastructure, and there had been a full review of internal procedures to identify where improvements could be made.

BBC: Rail services hit 'all-time low'

Passenger numbers are already growing faster than Virgin predicted and they should grow even faster by 2005 when Virgin plans to run trains every 15 minutes between London and Birmingham, taking just over an hour for the journey.

ECONOMIST: Transport