Cycle boost for five Greater Anglia stations

Published on: Monday, 13 July 2020
Last updated: Monday, 13 July 2020

Greater Anglia is creating almost 400 cycle spaces at five rail stations across its network.

Work will soon begin to create additional 392 new cycle spaces and improve lighting and CCTV at Audley End, Braintree, Manningtree, March and Newmarket stations.

Work should be completed by the end of September.

The project is being funded by Greater Anglia, the Department for Transport’s Cycle Rail Programme and three local authorities - Essex County Council, Fenland District Council and Suffolk County Council.

Station Spaces Greater Anglia funding Local authority funding Total
Audley End 60 £120,000 £30,000 £150,000
Braintree 32 £65,000 £18,000 £73,000
Manningtree 200 £175,000 £20,000 £195,000
Newmarket 50 £40,000 £16,000 £56,000
March 50 £58,000 £8,000 £66,000

Greater Anglia will provide a mix of new covered and open cycle parking spaces and conversion of single tier bike racks to double tier.

Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia’s Asset Management Director, said: "Although the current advice is to only travel if you really need to, the cycle spaces will be welcomed by customers when they do return to the railway.

"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.

"We would like to thank the Department for Transport, Essex County Council, Fenland District Council and Suffolk County Council for making this possible."

Cllr Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport said: "Making our stations more accessible to local residents, businesses and tourists is one of our key priorities as a Council and an important part of our Railway Station Masterplans scheme, which was made possible by £9.5million in funding from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority."

"It’s great to see such a project moving forward, especially one that encourages an environmentally friendly journey from start to finish, and we hope that these new facilities will encourage more people to stay active and enjoy our railways in a sustainable way."