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Spectators for the 2012 Olympic events in England are being warned to get their summer train tickets quickly if they do not want to pay higher prices for fares.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is warning those who hold tickets for the summer Olympics to book their train tickets within the next few weeks – or higher-priced tickets will be all that is available to them.

The ODA is developing and building infrastructure for the summer games – such as the Olympic Park – where many of the sporting events will take place.

The warning comes as the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is saying that some nine out of 10 spectators have yet to book train travel. Special train fares for the summer games went on sale last June. ATOC was expecting that a million spectators were to book train travel ahead of time. However, only 85,000 spectators have so far gotten their train tickets.

Lower-rate fares are being made available to both Olympic and Paralympic Games ticket holders. The fares offer extra flexibility in scheduling transportation if a sporting event is over-run or is rescheduled.

Starting in May, regular-priced advanced-sale train tickets will be sold for August train travel. They are more expensive than the unique tickets now on sale for those holding tickets for the summer events.

Organizers confirm they are concerned about the slow pace that holders of tickets to athletic events are proceeding to get their train tickets. “It is a real concern that so many 2012 Games ticket holders are yet to book their rail travel to and from Olympic and Paralympic events,” David Mapp, commercial director at ATOC, said in a recent statement. “Just one in ten of these good-value, flexible-tickets have been sold and there are only four months until the Olympics start.”

“We want to make sure that everyone going to the Games gets the right ticket for their journey,” Mapp added. “Anyone who has a 2012 Games ticket should log onto the dedicated website to book rail travel and take advantage of some of the great deals that are available.”

“We have worked hard alongside the nation’s train companies to get the message out there that spectators can buy their rail tickets a year out from the Games,” ODA Director of Transport Hugh Sumner added in the press statement. “Unfortunately, the response has not been as good as we would have liked. While it is unusual to book so far ahead, spectators who leave it to the last minute will unfortunately miss out on a range of special offers and benefits. Leaving it late not only risks people having to pay more for their travel but also means far less flexibility with their travel plans and potentially not being able to get a seat on the train that will get them, their friends and families, to the Games on time this summer.”

In a related story, TMCnet reported that close to 80 percent of U.K. business managers expect a large portion of their staffs will see complications in commuting to and from work during the athletic events associated with the Olympics. Many companies expect to rely on remote working methods, but that could lead to issues, too, because of fears the Internet will get overloaded, TMCnet added.