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Customer Service Excellence
Winner
‘one’ Railway
For almost a decade ‘one’, the train operator for the east of England, has supported the London to Southend bike ride. For the 2007 event ‘one’ supported both Southend based cyclists wanting to get to the start at Stratford, east London, and cyclists based in London and beyond who needed to return at the end of the event. For the first group ‘one’ ran a 12-coach special train from Southend to Stratford for the exclusive use of participants and their cycles. For those returning to London all scheduled services during the Sunday ran with eight coaches instead of the normal four.
The judges said ‘one’ Railway had shown that big events such as charity bike rides can be an opportunity for rail to show excellence in customer care and innovation.
Highly Commended
First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect’s aim has been to develop a clear, customer-focused cycle strategy. It has invested £100k in rail-cycle integration enhancements at 33 stations, improved security of cycle storage areas and customer perception of security. First Capital Connect also promotes the carriage of fully folding bicycles.
In the view of the judges First Capital Connect has, in a short space of time, spent significant amounts of money on more cycle parking and worked with local authorities to anticipate needs.
Cycling England Best Local Government Contribution
Winner
Fife Council
The New Cycleway – Markinch Station to Glenrothes project makes integrated cycling and train travel easier for residents of Glenrothes by providing a link from the rail network into the existing cycle route network in the town.
A railway branch line had existed between the towns of Leslie and Markinch. Most of the disused line had already been developed into a shared-use path. The new cycleway section has created a high quality facility providing an opportunity for passengers to access the station using an alternative to the car. Cycle lockers at the station provide security as well as protection from the elements.
The judges said the New Cycleway is a high standard scheme that enables a whole community to access a station, brings rail to a local community and opens rail to a new market.
Highly Commended
Surrey County Council
The Surrey Cycle-Rail Partnership between the County Council and Surrey’s train operators has delivered a major expansion in secure and safe cycle parking at stations, resulting in a massive increase in cycles parked on a daily basis.
This year’s flagship project was the delivery of a large new cycle facility at Dorking station.
New shelters offer a substantial increase in cycle parking space (from 24 spaces to 60); in August 2007 the facility was doubled in size to 120 spaces.
The judges said this was a wide-ranging and sustainable programme to improve cycle facilities across the country, working with local train operators.
Most Innovative Approach to Cycle-Rail Integration
Winner
National Rail Enquiries
Mindful of the increasing number of cyclists using the railway National Rail Enquiries introduced a simple link on its website to each train operator’s cycle policy. To date more than 100,000 people have used the link to view cycle policies and information about other onboard cycle facilities.
National Rail Enquiries works with ATOC’s marketing team to provide the most up to date information available with the aim of fostering a better relationship between cyclists and train operators, thus encouraging more people to use their bike rather than the car.
In the opinion of the judges this was an innovative and important scheme to ensure all users of the NRE website have access to up to date information about cycle facilities. It makes the rail network readily accessible for cyclists, greatly improving journey planning.
Highly Commended
OYBike
OYBike Systems has developed an operational network of automated self-service bicycle rental stations operated through mobile phones; the system is wire free and requires no mains electricity connections.
Pricing set at a maximum £8 in any 24 hours encourages short journeys, up to 5 kilometres, to be undertaken on a one-way basis, with freedom to make a return journey as a separate individual journey from any OYBike location.
Highly Commended
Go Pedal
Go Pedal’s aims to help people explore London by bike delivering bikes where
and when they are needed and collecting them afterwards. GoPedal developed an integrated rail/cycle route following the Thames from Putney to Richmond. Customers travel by rail or underground to Putney, collect their bikes then set off for Richmond. The riverside route provides the cyclists with a number of options to end at a station and return to London by train.
The judges said these were two small but important examples of how cycling can be made accessible to people who may not otherwise cycle or even have their own bikes.
People Award
Winner
PC Jerry Isterling
British Transport Police
Jerry is a British Transport Police Crime Reduction Officer based in south London. Jerry, working with three TOCs, Network Rail and national cycle retailer Evans Cycles, organised a series of cycle surgeries over a two-month period targeted at cycle theft hotspots at train stations across the South and South East. Jerry’s cycle surgeries were designed to educate bike owners on how they can avoid falling victim to cycle thieves.
The judges said Jerry had gone the extra mile in a highly innovative way to improve station security, which has improved detection rates by 600 per cent.
Highly Commended
Martin Bright and Simon Geller
Martin Bright, a retired teacher, and Simon Geller, an IT consultant, for their voluntary work in conducting and collating of an extensive survey of cycling facilities linked to Northern Rail’s operations and stations.
The judges said both had worked hard to provide a solid bedrock of information that underpins Northern Rail’s cycle strategy.
Train Operator of the Year
Winner
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is strongly committed to promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport to complement rail services.
The company maintains a free carriage of cycles policy with no need to reserve.
When trains undergo refurbishment the opportunity is sought to provide additional ‘flexible’ space for cycles and other luggage. Working with local authorities and the cycling community Northern Rail seeks to make stations more cycle-friendly with secure storage facilities and identify safe cycle routes to and from stations. It is providing facilities for leisure cyclists on its network.
Northern Rail has taken a major step forward in cycle rail integration, helping to make the cycle rail experience a positive one, by providing a strategy that should be a blueprint for other train operators.
Highly Commended
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways aims to increase the number of commuters cycling by:
• increasing the number of cycle racks at our stations
• ensuring a high quality of cycling facilities
• sponsoring and working alongside local cycle awareness groups.
Working with Local Authorities Chiltern Railways provides cycle parking at 87 per cent of its stations and is working closely with local authorities to provide more cycle parking. It has resulted in a significant increase in the number of commuters cycling to stations.
The judges said that Chiltern had demonstrated a commitment to encourage cycle use at both small and large stations by working with local authorities and cycle user groups. This had led to an increase in the number of commuters using station cycle facilities.
CTC Station of the Year
Winner
Chiltern Railways
- Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station
Chiltern Railways understands the need to develop sustainable cycling initiatives and that working with groups connected to the local community, such as the ‘Haddenham Safe Walking and Cycling Group’, is the best way to deliver them.
Chiltern is providing an opportunity for the community to have a strong say in how their station can be developed to meet their transport needs.
Haddenham and Thame Parkway effectively highlights this.
This entry shows what a small station can do by working with local groups and catering for local needs to deliver an excellent example of the benefits of collaboration.
Highly Commended
South West Trains
- Guildford Station
South West Trains has been working hard to make Guildford station more accessible for cycles. Between 2005 and 2006 the train operator doubled the amount of cycle storage at the station.
This was done through South West Trains’ partnership with Surrey County Council, which gave the train company a grant of £25,000 to help make the scheme possible. Guildford Station can now offer cycle users a total of six double-decker racks as well as a shelter.
The judges said the entry clearly demonstrated how South West Trains has responded to the growth in cycling and the community’s needs over the years by increasing the number of cycle spaces provided.
