01.02.13
£62m cycling boost for stations and cities
Rail minister Norman Baker has announced £62m investment to improve cycling facilities, including significant work to integrate cycling with rail and make it easier to ride to stations.
New cycle hubs will be built at Leicester, Nottingham, Redhill and Upminster stations with bike hire, storage, lockers and changing facilities. A flagship centre will be created at Sheffield station and a cycling route network will be developed in Leeds city centre.
£550,000 government funding will also go towards a cycle hub at Brighton station, including a cycle repair workshop.
Up to three cities are to benefit from funding of up to £30m to make cycling easier and safer for people in urban areas, improving cycle-rail integration and conditions for cyclists.
Transport minister Norman Baker said: “We are serious about cycling, as this latest wave of funding shows. We have already seen how schemes can quickly deliver economic and environmental benefits, as well as improving public health.
“Anyone who rides a bike will know it is important to keep the impetus going and this record level of funding will provide a shot in the arm to cycling in England.
Our ambition is to get people cycling more safely and more often and today’s announcements will help us to make that vision a reality.”
Jonny Wiseman, route manager for East Midlands Trains, said: “The announcement about cycle funding is great news for our passengers. It will allow us to build even further on the multi million pound improvements already made at Leicester and Sheffield stations, and will allow us to further enhance Nottingham’s Hub redevelopment scheme with the addition of a new dedicated cycle hub.
“We have been working closely with Network Rail and the local authorities in each of our key cities on developing improved cycling facilities at the stations. We will be able to finalise the arrangements for each station in the next few weeks.”
A spokesperson for ATOC said: “Investment in cycle rail is good news for passengers. Train companies are committed to helping people find alternative ways of getting to their local stations and this investment is a real boost to those that want to go by bike.
“After years of decline the railway is booming with more journeys now being made than at any time since the 1920s. Making train travel easier is at the heart of ensuring that growth continues and train companies are committed to further integrating cycle and rail travel.”
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