Collective effort by transportation professionals to ensure the Olympic and Paralympic Games ran smoothly was formally recognised at the CIHT Annual Luncheon.

Hugh Sumner of the Olympic Delivery Authority thanked members of the Institution and the wider transportation community for helping to create “a summer like no other” in an address to 1665 people at London’s Grosvenor House on 14 December.

“As transportation professionals you made it happen, so thank you,” he said. “Many predicted the Games would be a disaster, there would be transport meltdown and gridlock would ensue. The fact of the matter was that didn’t happen.”

Mr Sumner praised the way in which roads and railways were managed during the Games and highlighted the good work by transport specialists, local authorities and contractors around the country to make sure the Torch Relay in early summer passed off without incident.

But not all of the Games related transport decisions were entirely necessary, he admitted. “With hindsight we should not have provided as many coaches and buses for the Games Family because they ended up using public transport anyway, such as the Javelin train between St Pancras and the Olympic Park.

“We should not have bothered getting the transport booking websites up and running a year before the Games; we could have waited until a few months before,” he added. “And sticking the road events in the centre of town – while it provided an iconic backdrop – didn’t make our lives any easier in terms of moving athletes around. Other organising cities might like to think about that in future.”

On a more positive note there have been a series of important transport legacies to take from the London Games, Mr Sumner said, such as the application of travel demand management plans, coordinated transport control and use of night time freight deliveries.

“These things need to be carried forwards as an industry,” he went on. “The bigger legacy is the relationships we created from the Games; the fact that everyone talks to each other now with great passion and knows each other better.”

Members and guests were welcomed to the Annual Luncheon by CIHT Chief Executive Sue Percy. She said 2012 had been a largely positive year for CIHT but expressed sadness over the untimely death of John Smart, the Director of Policy & Technical Affairs. “He is sorely missed by colleagues and friends both within and beyond the Institution and to the many who contacted us to express their condolences, thank you.”

Sue was followed by CIHT President David Anderson whose theme for his year in office is “transport matters”.  He said it has been a pleasure to speak with members across industry and at all stages of their careers including students. He has also been impressed by branches who “work tirelessly” to host good quality events and encouraged more people to get involved with local activities.

He urged senior representatives in the industry to help mentor the next generation “to carry forward work we have had quite a lot of fun doing” and thanked all those who contribute to the Institution’s boards, panels and councils. “I also want to thank those who sign off the timesheets to allow those people the time to do that,” he added.

The President promoted the CIHT’s campaign to recruit a further 500 members, said the Institution’s profile continues to grow and added it will shortly be releasing key position statements on topical issues and updating its manifesto and technical guidance documents.

Members and guests were later entertained by BBC journalist and Radio 4’s Today presenter Justin Webb who gave an amusing insight into his experiences of America’s political system.