Greater Anglia has announced that they have appointed a new integrated transport manager to help make passengers journeys to and from their stations easier.
The new appointment, Paul Wilkinson, is part of the train operating company's increase in commitment to improving integrated transport as part of the new franchise.
Integrated transport is where two or more modes of transport work efficiently together. For example, using a bus and a train to get to your destination.
Paul will be leading a new Greater Anglia Integrated Transport Forum. This is a first in the company's history.
The role that Paul will take on covers all aspects of journeys, from station cycle parking to improving connections between trains and buses. He will also be taking on the job of promoting onward-journey opportunities.
Joining from Colchester Borough Council, where he was the transportation policy manager, Paul will be building on the work that has already been completed, such as the fixing the link project in Colchester. He will be working closely with local authorities on joint initiatives to improve access to and from railway stations.
What did the officials say?
Paul said: “I am very pleased to have joined Greater Anglia as the first-ever integrated transport manager. We want to make your journey as smooth as possible, from the moment you leave your house to the moment you arrive at your final destination. I will be working with groups within Greater Anglia, which is committed to being as environmentally-friendly as possible, and I hope to focus on this in my role.”
Jonathan Denby, Greater Anglia's Head of Corporate Affairs, said: “Paul brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role and we are thrilled to have him on board. We are committed to making people's lives a little easier when getting to and from the station, whether they choose to walk, cycle, catch the bus or drive.”
- Visit the Greater Anglia website
For more information
It’s great a TOC is actually making an effort in this area. Measures they could consider should include:
* Promoting PlusBus and extending it to include rural hinterlands rather than just station towns. This would bring integrated ticketing to towns like Haverhill.
* Allowing buses to pull up right at station doors, rather than further away behind the taxi rank and car drop-off, like at Cambridge.
* Having real-time bus information and maps clearly visible to passengers leaving the station, not obscured behind coffee shops and charity muggers.