Abellio train operator Greater Anglia welcomes investment in station cycling – Colchester to benefit

Abellio train operator Greater Anglia has welcomed the recent announcement by Government to invest £62m in cycling schemes across the country including an allocation of £300k to further improve cycling facilities at Colchester station. Colchester is one of 3 Greater Anglia stations to receive funding as part of this initiative, the others being Ely and Norwich.

At Colchester, working with Station Travel Plan partners Colchester Borough Council and Essex County Council, Greater Anglia are planning to introduce cycle retail and maintenance facilities, and more secure cycle parking as well as increasing the overall capacity for cycle parking at the station from 414 to 550 spaces.

The work at Colchester is expected to commence later this year with completion in Spring 2014. This investment positively reflects the strategy adopted by Abellio, whereby their companies are encouraged to develop innovative partnerships to promote and increase cycling usage at stations, as part of expanding and improving transport integration and green travel choices.

A number of stations at Abellio’s other train companies – Merseyrail and Northern Rail – are also benefitting from participation in this Government-funded scheme. Greater Anglia is already developing new and comprehensive cycle hubs at Cambridge and Chelmsford as part of its franchise commitments.

Ruud Haket, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said: “I am extremely pleased that our work to promote and encourage travel to stations by cycle is being supported through this initiative. Colchester is a popular location for commuters who cycle to the station and the significant boost to cycle parking capacity and facilities will encourage even more. By working with Government and our partners in local authorities and through innovative schemes such as Station Travel Plans, we are playing our part in offering more and effective green travel choices for the communities we serve.”

Essex County Councillor Derrick Louis, Cabinet Member for Highways & Transportation said: “The announcement of this additional funding for cycling facilities at Colchester station is very welcome news. Essex County Council is committed to making it easier for residents to cycle to and from train stations, and we have done a lot of work in recent years to make it easier to get around Colchester by bike. We look forward to working with Greater Anglia and Colchester Borough Council on these new improvements.”

Councillor Lyn Barton, Portfolio Holder for Renaissance at Colchester Borough Council said: “Our investment in cycle parking and security at the station has already seen a 50% increase in people cycling to the station, and this money enables us to implement more improvements and is very welcome. It shows how effective our strong partnership with Greater Anglia and Essex County Council is and how committed we are to deliver on Travel Change Behaviour. I look forward to continuing this partnership and hope to see investment in more initiatives in the future.”