Published on: Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Last updated: Tuesday, 1 October 2019
A new cycle parking facility is to be officially opened at Colchester rail station on Thursday 3rd September.
CyclePark+ has been made possible by a Cycle Rail Grant from the Department for Transport and has increased total cycle parking capacity at the station by 138 spaces.
As part of this, Abellio Greater Anglia has installed a new cycle compound on the London-bound side of the station to offer more secure parking to cyclists using the station.
The secure compound will be officially opened by Essex County Councillors Cllr Ray Howard, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, and Cllr Sue Lissimore, Deputy to the Cabinet Member responsible for Sport and Physical Activity, who will cut a ribbon with Abellio Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, John Mannion, at 1430 on Thursday 3rd September.
At the same time, the British Transport Police will be in attendance to offer free cycle security marking and theft prevention advice to cyclists.
The secure compound accommodates 140 cycles and creates safer, more secure cycle storage for station users with CCTV, motion sensor lighting and access only via a key fob system so that bikes are securely locked away.
To use the secure compound, cyclists obtain a key fob from the ticket office for a refundable deposit.
Recently Abellio Greater Anglia also opened a free cycle parking area accommodating 96 cycles on two-tier racks on the London-bound side of the station.
New signage for the CyclePark+ was jointly funded by Colchester Borough Council.
John Mannion, Abellio Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, said: “We are committed to improving cycle facilities for our customers and I am delighted that the new CyclePark+ is now open. The improved facilities at Colchester will offer customers more secure and additional cycle storage facilities, encouraging more people to travel to the station by bike.”
Cllr Ray Howard, Essex County Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “These new facilities are a welcome addition to the cycling provision in Colchester and build upon the success of the cycle parking already put in place at Colchester Station through strong partnership working.
“We are committed to encouraging residents and visitors to make greater use of the station, helping reduce the traffic on the town’s roads and boost its economy.”
Cllr Sue Lissimore, Deputy to the Cabinet Member responsible for Sport and Physical Activity, said: “Essex has hosted a series of world-renowned cycling events in recent years, including Olympic mountain biking in 2012, the third stage of the Tour De France in 2014 and the Women’s Tour earlier this year.
“Having the necessary facilities in place to ensure residents can get out on their bikes as part of their everyday lives is vital to building on that sporting legacy. I am therefore delighted to see these new cycle storage facilities being opened in Colchester.”
Colchester Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Street and Waste Services, Councillor Dominic Graham said: “Colchester welcomes the doubling of the cycle parking at the railway station and the improved level of security provided.
“New cycle infrastructure such as this can only help promote and increase cycling in Colchester. We’re always looking for ways to improve facilities for residents and the Council continues to work closely with Abellio Greater Anglia to make improvements to the station and the surrounding area.”
Since the franchise began in February 2012, Abellio Greater Anglia has implemented a wide variety of cycle-focused enhancements including upgrades to existing facilities, creating a new cycle strategy, making arrangements for special cycling events and increasing cycle parking spaces across the network including innovative large-scale CyclePoint schemes at Chelmsford and Cambridge.