Record levels of investment pay off as more rail passengers cycle

Rail passengers are cycling to the station more than ever thanks to record levels of investment in improving cycle-rail travel.

Analysis shows that there are up to an estimated 28million cycle/rail journeys a year made by someone who has cycled to the station – the equivalent of an average of 77,000 journeys a day. That is up by 23,000 a day when compared with two years ago.

And the numbers are expected to rise as train companies carry out a series of major improvements to stations.

As the days get longer and warmer, the rail industry has been working hard to make sure cycling passengers get maximum benefit from the biggest ever funding drive from train companies, the Department for Transport (DfT), Network Rail and the Cycling England ‘Bike n Ride’ programme.

Current projects include:

• The UK’s first Dutch-style Cyclepoint, introduced by transport group Abellio, will open in Leeds this summer offering a one-stop-shop facility with storage, cycle hire, repair, retail, training and information, with plans to incorporate smartcard technology.
• Northern Rail, which is helping to fund Leeds Cyclepoint, is also developing new and improved cycling facilities at more than 100 stations on routes into Leeds.
• Development of an integrated rail and cycle ‘Plusbike’ hire ticketing scheme by South West Trains, Cycle England and ATOC is underway. South West Trains is also increasing the number of cycle spaces at its stations, expanding the Brompton bike scheme at Waterloo and introducing a second cycle hire facility at Richmond.
• A cyclepoint is planned for Stoke by Virgin Trains, which is also working to improve cycling facilities at a number of other stations.
• Merseyrail is developing facilities to open in June including a fully staffed storage, repair and hire facility at Southport station in partnership with Sefton Borough Council, and secure cycle storage at a further 17 stations which will take the total number of spaces across the network to over 1,500.
• London Midland is investing £300,000 in cycling infrastructure, to make its stations key to local communities’ cycling plans.

The importance of cycle-rail is reflected in it now being a franchise commitment. As part of the Cycling and Rail Integration Team (CRIT), ATOC has developed a model for franchisees to follow to improve cycle facilities, and is working with the Government to apply the model to upcoming franchises.

Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of ATOC, said: “Train companies are committed to ensuring that passengers are able to get to and from stations as easily as possible, and have made real progress in understanding passengers’ needs and wants and responding to them. But we want to do more.

“Inexpensive, environmentally friendly and good for your health, cycling is becoming an ever more popular mode of transport. We have a long way to go before we are as good as countries such as Holland at getting people onto two wheels, but these figures show that we are improving cycle-rail provision.”

Phillip Darnton, chairman of Cycling England, said: “Train companies have recognised the clear benefits to passengers of combined cycle and rail travel, and that can be seen in the quality of the successful bids for ‘Bike n Ride’ funding. The schemes that are currently underway will improve facilities across the country, benefiting those who currently cycle to the station, and encouraging others to opt for ‘saddle and train’.”