ANNUAL CYCLE-RAIL AWARDS
25 Oct 2006
TRAIN OPERATORS, STATIONS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES CROWNED WINNERS AT ANNUAL CYCLE-RAIL AWARDS
The National Cycle-Rail Awards 2006, supported by the Association of Train Operating Companies’ (ATOC), recognise the progress made by the rail industry and associated organisations towards encouraging the integrated use of cycles and train travel.
The awards have been broadened in 2006 and now recognise the best train operator, station, local government initiatives, cycle parking and facilities, information provision, the most innovative schemes and the best people. The winners of the ATOC National Cycle-Rail Awards 2006 are:
Customer Service Excellence – First ScotRail
Highly commended – Gatwick Express
Best Local Government Contribution (sponsored by Cycling England) – Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Highly commended – Essex County Council
Most Innovative Approach to Cycle-Rail Integration – South West Trains
Highly commended – Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) for the Bike Locker Users Club
Best Provision of Cycle-Rail Information – ‘Off the Rails’ rail-bike hire company
Cycle Parking Provision – Transport for London, Finsbury Park Cycle Park
Highly commended – South West Trains
Person of the Year – Juliet Donnachie, Station Manager, Edinburgh Waverley
Station of the Year – Havant
Train Operator of the Year – First ScotRail
Tom Harris, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, presented the ATOC National Cycle-Rail Awards in London on Tuesday 24 October 2006.
Tom Harris said: “The increased number of entries and nominations received from all over Britain for this year’s awards revealed the sheer scale of the often unheralded work being carried out by rail organisations to promote the integration of cycling and rail travel across the network. I congratulate them all.”
That work includes a range of initiatives from large scale and long-term projects to smaller single station works. The increasing support of the awards is helping to develop the National Cycle Rail Awards as the showcase for the very best in the integration of bikes and trains.”
George Muir, ATOC’s Director General, said: “Much is being achieved to integrate bike and train but we recognise the need to maintain momentum and do yet more. All involved with the awards wish to continue to recognise and reward improvement – and to incentivise yet more improvements that make rail easier for cyclists to use.
’ATOC has a clear aim to encourage the greater use of cycles to access the railway. It is through improved communication and the spread of best practice that we will move closer towards fulfilling that aim.
’I congratulate all the finalists and winners and look forward to another record-breaking event in 2007.’
Across the country, more than 75% of people now live within just two miles of a National Cycle Network (NCN) route (Source: Sustrans). Many of these routes link stations and some are even built on former railway lines.
An increasing number of railway stations across the National Rail network have good quality parking facilities for bicycles and/or bike rental outlets on or near to the station making integrated travel an easy solution for your whole journey.
The train can also be an ideal way of taking a bicycle around the country. Cycles can be carried on all train operators’ services outside of some peak hour services in. Bicycles can generally be carried without reservation - and go free on most train services. Folding bicycles can be taken on any train at any time completely free of charge.
The independent panel of judges praised all those who entered the awards, for their dedication and determination to make the use of bikes and trains a viable option.
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