"On your bike and bus" says ATOC
11th July 2008
ATOC
The Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly today launched the Station Travel Plan initiative for England and Wales at Derby Station. The project is a multi-stakeholder initiative developed by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and has involved close co-operation with train companies, local authorities, Network Rail, Passenger Focus, the Rail Safety and Standards Board and the Campaign for Better Transport.
The aim of the initiative is to encourage rail users to use environmentally friendly forms of transport when travelling to and from stations. Greater use of public transport, cycling and walking will also help to reduce traffic congestion around stations.
Each station travel plan will include a series of measures to encourage non-car access to the station. These can include improved cycle storage facilities, better bus interchange or more passenger information.
Station travel plans will be developed for 24 pilot schemes covering 31 stations across the country. Stations selected are from as far afield as Derby, Leeds, Shotton, Southend and Truro. The 24 pilot schemes have been selected from over 70 applicants.
Over the next nine months, extensive passenger research will be carried out at pilot stations to understand how and why passengers choose particular modes of transport to access them. Specific travel plans will then be developed and implemented during 2009. Further research to evaluate the effectiveness of the plans will be undertaken in 2011.
Launching the national scheme, David Mapp, Commercial Director of ATOC said:
“Station Travel Plans provide an excellent opportunity for the environmental benefits of rail travel to be extended to journeys to and from stations. The project is a complex one but has already benefited from strong teamwork across a wide range of industry stakeholders.”
Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, commented:
“We believe that a station travel plan can make it easier for people to use sustainable forms of transport for their journeys. I am delighted by the high level of interest shown by local authorities and train operators in the station travel plan idea and welcome the announcement by ATOC that over 20 pilots are to be set up. "
- ends -
For further information, please contact the ATOC Press Office on 020 7841 8020.
Notes to Editors
1. The 24 pilot schemes are:
Appendix: Pilot stations
Pilot Name Station(s)
1 Derby Derby
2 Loughborough Loughborough
3 Colchester North Colchester North
4 Leighton Buzzard Leighton Buzzard
5 Southend Stations Southend Victoria
Southend Central
6 St. Albans & Hatfield St Albans City
St Albans Abbey
Hatfield
7 Middlesbrough & Thornaby Middlesbrough
Thornaby
8 Darlington Darlington
9 Durham Durham
10 Accrington Accrington
11 Hazel Grove Hazel Grove
12 Ashford (Kent) Ashford
13 Milton Keynes Central Milton Keynes Central
14 Three Rivers CRP Eastleigh
Chandlers Ford
Romsey
St. Denys
15 Bristol Parkway Bristol Parkway
16 Truro Truro
17 Digby & Sowton Digby & Sowton
18 Shotton Shotton
19 Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent
20 Leamington Spa Leamington Spa
21 King's Norton King's Norton
22 Chapeltown Chapeltown
23 Hebden Bridge Hebden Bridge
24 Leeds Leeds
The aim of the initiative is to encourage rail users to use environmentally friendly forms of transport when travelling to and from stations. Greater use of public transport, cycling and walking will also help to reduce traffic congestion around stations.
Each station travel plan will include a series of measures to encourage non-car access to the station. These can include improved cycle storage facilities, better bus interchange or more passenger information.
Station travel plans will be developed for 24 pilot schemes covering 31 stations across the country. Stations selected are from as far afield as Derby, Leeds, Shotton, Southend and Truro. The 24 pilot schemes have been selected from over 70 applicants.
Over the next nine months, extensive passenger research will be carried out at pilot stations to understand how and why passengers choose particular modes of transport to access them. Specific travel plans will then be developed and implemented during 2009. Further research to evaluate the effectiveness of the plans will be undertaken in 2011.
Launching the national scheme, David Mapp, Commercial Director of ATOC said:
“Station Travel Plans provide an excellent opportunity for the environmental benefits of rail travel to be extended to journeys to and from stations. The project is a complex one but has already benefited from strong teamwork across a wide range of industry stakeholders.”
Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, commented:
“We believe that a station travel plan can make it easier for people to use sustainable forms of transport for their journeys. I am delighted by the high level of interest shown by local authorities and train operators in the station travel plan idea and welcome the announcement by ATOC that over 20 pilots are to be set up. "
- ends -
For further information, please contact the ATOC Press Office on 020 7841 8020.
Notes to Editors
1. The 24 pilot schemes are:
Appendix: Pilot stations
Pilot Name Station(s)
1 Derby Derby
2 Loughborough Loughborough
3 Colchester North Colchester North
4 Leighton Buzzard Leighton Buzzard
5 Southend Stations Southend Victoria
Southend Central
6 St. Albans & Hatfield St Albans City
St Albans Abbey
Hatfield
7 Middlesbrough & Thornaby Middlesbrough
Thornaby
8 Darlington Darlington
9 Durham Durham
10 Accrington Accrington
11 Hazel Grove Hazel Grove
12 Ashford (Kent) Ashford
13 Milton Keynes Central Milton Keynes Central
14 Three Rivers CRP Eastleigh
Chandlers Ford
Romsey
St. Denys
15 Bristol Parkway Bristol Parkway
16 Truro Truro
17 Digby & Sowton Digby & Sowton
18 Shotton Shotton
19 Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent
20 Leamington Spa Leamington Spa
21 King's Norton King's Norton
22 Chapeltown Chapeltown
23 Hebden Bridge Hebden Bridge
24 Leeds Leeds
