25/08/2009
South West Trains is to extend the UK rail network’s first green cycle hire initiative following a successful pilot scheme.
Earlier this year, South West Trains, part of Stagecoach Group, joined forces with Brompton Bicycle in a bid to encourage passengers to cycle as part of a fully integrated low carbon journey combining bike and train.
The company invited some of its season ticket holders to take part in a free trial of the scheme, using Brompton’s iconic folding bikes.
Now, South West Trains is making 50 bikes available for hire to South West Trains season ticket holders and the general public. These bikes have no travel restrictions and can be carried on all South West Trains services.
For season ticket holders, a South West Trains Brompton bike can be hired for up to a year for less then £2 a week. A selection of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual bike hire options are also available for non-season-ticket holders.
As an added incentive, customers who take up the offer for a minimum of three months will receive a £10 travel voucher.
South West Trains Managing Director Stewart Palmer said: “We know that many of our customers are looking for greener travel choices.
“Cycling is growing in popularity and this initiative offers people the chance to reduce their carbon footprint, while also contributing to a healthier lifestyle.”
The number of people cycling on London’s major roads has nearly doubled since 2000 and Transport for London (TfL) is targeting a 5% mode share for cycling by 2025.
Cycle hire schemes are popular elsewhere in Europe, with initiatives launched in major cities such as Paris, Brussels, Barcelona and Berlin.
The idea for the South West Trains scheme followed research involving 13,000 people across the UK, including consumers in the South West Trail rail franchise area, focusing on public attitudes to green issues.
Health emerged as a significant factor in convincing people to ditch the car and switch to public transport. With growing interest in cycling, the bike hire initiative is designed to make it easier for travellers to make a greener, integrated journey.
Further information on the South West Trains scheme is available at www.southwesttrains.co.uk or by emailing bromptonbikes@swtrains.co.uk
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The South West Trains Brompton bike scheme is managed from the Lost Property Office at Waterloo. For a £100 returnable deposit, the bikes can be hired by season ticket holders at the following rates: -
- £5 Weekly
- £20 Monthly
- £50 Quarterly
- £100 Annual
- The rates for non-season ticket holders are as follows:
- £5 Daily
- £15 Weekly
- £40 Monthly
- £100 Quarterly
- £250 Annual
- Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.
- South West Trains is one of the busiest rail networks in the UK, running almost 1700 trains a day in the south-west of England out of London Waterloo.
For further information contact:
Lindsay Reid
Corporate Communications Manager
Stagecoach Group
10 Dunkeld Road
Perth
PH1 5TW
Phone: 01738 442111
Fax: 01738 443076
Mobile: 07500 446896
email: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com
