Train firm in cycling push
COMMUTERS will be encouraged to cycle to Stoke Train Station.
Virgin Trains, which runs the station, has been given £1 million from the Department for Transport and Cycling England to run a national campaign to get more people to cycle to stations.
A total of 540 additional cycle storage spaces at stations are to be shared between Stoke, Stafford, Macclesfield, Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly.
At Stoke, where an extra 210 spaces will be created, Virgin Trains is working with the city council to encourage 52 per cent of passengers to arrive at the station by sustainable means of transport.
James Wright, cycle rail project manager for Virgin Trains, said: "It's is all about encouraging sustainable travel. By providing more cycle storage at stations along the Potteries rail corridor, together with a cycle hire scheme at Piccadilly, it will be possible to have bike-train-bike journeys."
Comments
by Paul, Newcastle staffs
Tuesday, September 29 2009, 12:41PM
“Hi this is great news, I havre and will do again used the cycle services at Stoke on Trent station.
Firstly I would say how easy it is, the staff are great and always helpful. I take my bike to London and use it to commute across London, and grt me home from the station.
The tickets are not so good, Cycles travel free but have to be booked in advance. The Virgin website can not help so it has to be on the telesales lines. and they are not so good. I have used them twice and the tickets/reservation had not been made!! But on the Good side, The staff in the booking office at Stoke saved the day! My advice would be book it at the Station the guys Know what they are doing!!
But GREAT NEWS, all we need to do is GET ON OUR BIKES>
Paul (dutch bike( Evans”