Awards recognise work powering the cycle-rail revolution

Investment to improve cycling facilities at stations and on trains is helping to fuel a rapid rise in the number of people combining cycle and rail to get to work or to make leisure trips, with around 50million ‘cycle-rail’ journeys last year, up 40 per cent on 2010.

The number of cycle spaces at rail stations has risen to over 75,000 from 23,500, while the number of cycle-rail journeys where a bike is parked at a station has increased by over 70% per cent in the last seven years, with almost 1,000 hire bikes available and 35 cycle hubs.

The National Cycle-Rail Awards, run by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on behalf of the Cycle-Rail Working Group, are sponsored by Cyclepods and are now in their 13th year. The Awards play a key part in increasing cyclists’ access to the railway by improving cycle facilities at stations, security and the sharing of best practice.

This year’s winners, judged in tandem with cycling stakeholders and campaign groups, include:

• Best Customer Service – CrossCountry Trains, for its new service for cyclists, making cycle reservations on board easier through new online channels, and gaining more positive feedback
• Partnership Working - Sustrans Scotland and Stirling Council for Dunblane Station, creating a more user-friendly environment to encourage people to walk and cycle to and from the station
• Innovation – Merseyrail for provisions for cyclists during Wirral tunnel track renewal, increasing the use of ‘Bike & Go’ cycle hires as well as using a ground-breaking and effective ‘bike bus’ project allowing customers to continue their journey into the city without hassle
• Door-to-door journeys – TransPennine Express for station travel plans, meaning that every station on its network will have a clear and actionable plan for improving integration between trains and local transport
• Cycle Champion – Steve Smith, Stagecoach, for his leadership, coordination and motivation in delivering cycle facilities for South West Trains (now South Western Railway)
• Cycle Security – Waltham Forest Council for Leyton Cycle Hub, for creating one of the safest cycle parking facilities in the UK
• Station of the Year – Southeastern for Gravesend station, addressing concerns regarding security and the availability of cycle parking, supporting economic growth in the local area, helping to reduce carbon emissions, and promoting sustainable active travel.
• Operator of the Year – Southeastern for improvements to cycle facilities at Ashford, Dartford and Tonbridge, investing £4.6million to create 1,246 cycle spaces over a two-year period

Presenting the awards was Rupert Furness, Head of Active and Accessible Travel, at the Department for Transport, at a ceremony hosted by RDG and sponsored by Cyclepods. The awards ceremony was also addressed by guest speakers Pier Eringa, Chief Executive of ProRail in the Netherlands, and Alex Montgomery from Microsoft UK.

Paul Plummer, Chief Executive at the Rail Delivery Group, which brings together train operators and Network Rail to enable a better railway, said:

“Record numbers of people are using cycles as part of their rail journeys and this growth is down to the dedication and determination of our partnership railway, both inside and outside the rail industry. 

“This year’s awards winners have made outstanding contributions to cycle-rail covering everything from new and improved station facilities to better customer information and customer service, with Britain’s communities better connected through localised decision-making and investment.”

A full list of award winners, photographs and more information is available by contacting the RDG media team.

Notes to editors

Judges included: Martyn Brunt, National Cycling Network Development Manager, Sustrans; Sarah Burr, Senior Strategy and Planning Manager, Cycling Surface Transport, Transport for London; Ruth Chappell, Deputy Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport; Charlotte De Brito, Head of Crime Reduction, British Transport Police; Sharon Goodsell, Head of Cycling and Walking Policy, Active Accessible Travel; Crispin Humm, Head of Customer Journey, Rail Delivery Group; Sandra Iles, Policy Adviser, Department for Transport

The Cycle Rail Working Group is a cross industry working group that encourages implementation and best practice development of strategic policy in relation to the delivery of cycle-rail integration. The Group is chaired by Phillip Darnton of the Bicycle Association and the secretariat role is fulfilled by RDG.

Group members include: Department for Transport, London Cycling Campaign, Network Rail, Passenger Transport, Sustrans and Transport for London.

About the Rail Delivery Group

The Rail Delivery Group exists to enable a better railway by bringing together train operators, freight operators and Network Rail. It also recently established a partnership with the Rail Supply Group.