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, http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/mytownstafford">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."