We have managed to wheel away from the 2006 ATOC Cycle-Rail Awards with two top honours.
Firstly, Havant station won Station of the Year after a £300,000 investment over the course of 18 months to create the Hayling Billy cycle route. The Hayling Billy route was a former railway line but with the successful work that has been carried out it is now a cycle route from Havant to Hayling. This scheme will serve both commuters as well as tourists and has involved consultation and partnerships between us and local authorities. Cycle parking has tripled in a complete route and station package with CCTV cameras also installed to cover the cycle storage.
Secondly, our partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP) came out on top in the Most Innovative Approach to Cycle/Rail Integration category after developing a scheme to deter cycle theft at a number of high-risk stations throughout our network. A road show visited key stations with our own representatives and the BTP and included cycle marking to make bikes traceable on a national database. The judges said this was an innovative, imaginative and popular solution to a widespread problem that was, thanks to consultation between the railway industry, the police and cycle users, a truly ‘joined up’ project. It went, they said, well beyond the usual bounds to seek an answer to cycle theft.
Ian Johnston, our Customer Service Director said: “I’m delighted that we have won these prestigious awards. Our partnership with the BTP and with local authorities has been a driving force behind providing passengers with excellent cycle facilities at many key stations on our network. We will continue our investment in provisions for cyclists at stations to encourage the link between cycles and train travel.”
We have also been highly commended in the Cycle Parking Provision category for our provision of facilities at key commuter stations including Guildford, Ewell West, Basingstoke and Wimbledon.