Greater Anglia has now welcomed over £1.1 million of funding to improve the cycling facilities at seven different stations across the region.
The cash itself will be spent on installing an extra 510 Bike spaces and improving lighting and CCTV at some of the stations on the service.
The money for this comes from the Department for Transport's Cycle Rail Programme and also from the local authorities.
The Essex stations that are to benefit of this investment are Audley End, an extra 100 spaces, Braintree, an extra 50, Chelmsford, 60, Manningtree, 100 and Marks Tey, 100 spaces – they would like to say also thanks to a £133,000 contribution from the local County Council of Essex.
March Railway station, a train station based in Cambridgeshire, is to get 50 additional spaces added, these new spaces being added are enabled through the support and investment of the Fenland District Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority which is also known as the CPCA.
In Suffolk, Greater Anglia services will be installing an extra 50 cycle spaces at the station of Newmarket, also using a funding sum of £15,000 supplied by the County Council of Suffolk.
Greater Anglia will provide a mix of new covered and open cycle parking spaces and will have a conversion of single tier bike racks to double tier bike racks.
Lighting and CCTV coverage will also be improved for cycle parks at some of the stations due to a need for improvement.
The local authorities which have contributed towards the improvements in order to make them possible are Essex County Council, Fenland District Council and Suffolk County Council.
What did the officials say?
Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia director of asset management, said:
“We're thrilled to have received this funding from the Department for Transport and our local councils.
“With more people choosing to live in our region and travel by train, we are seeing increasing numbers of people cycling to stations so we're keen to expand our cycling facilities, especially as it helps people to minimise their carbon footprint for the entire length of their journeys.”
Cllr Kevin Bentley, deputy leader of Essex County Council and cabinet member for infrastructure, said:
“I am thrilled and delighted that our £133k investment is creating an extra 410 new cycle parking spaces at stations across Essex.
“This is part of our commitment to help make it easier for people to travel across Essex, bringing communities together and connecting people to services, employment and learning opportunities. It also secures sustainable development and protects the environment. It truly is money well spent.”
Cllr Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council's portfolio holder for transport, said:
“This investment is great news for rail commuters in March as it will make it easier for them to include cycling in their everyday journey. Cycling directly to the station and leaving the car at home will also help to reduce congestion on the roads, improve health and fitness and cut the cost of the daily commute.
“I'd like to thank the CPCA for its continued funding support, helping make this improvement and others planned in our Railway Station Masterplans project possible.”
Councillor Mary Evans, cabinet member for highways, transport and rural issues said:
“Suffolk County Council was delighted to invest in this project, which will improve the provision of cycle parking at Newmarket Station. In 2015 we worked with partners to invest in upgrading the cycle parking facilities at the station and these are in high demand.
“The new spaces will enable the station to be more accessible by environmentally friendly modes of transport and give people the confidence to cycle to the station knowing they will have a secure place to store their bike.”
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Utterly pointless and a waste of money unless it’s administered properly. The secure cycle racks at Ipswich are approx 70% empty because all the fobs were dished out at the beginning for a £20 deposit.. Which no one can be bothered to return for.
The Class 153, Class 156 and Class 170 “Turbostar” DMU’s are due to be replaced by the Bi-Mode Class 755 “Flirt” and the Class 755 will have bike racks for passengers to store their bikes whilst travelling. As well storing bikes at stations that do have secured bike facilities.