Rail White Papers Addresses Bikes on Trains

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly today announced a new rail strategy.

The strategy document, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, has a full
page on bikes on trains.

Cycling England chair Phillip Darnton has welcomed the introduction
of a new taskforce to establish a consistent approach to better
integration of bike and rail journeys across different train
operating companies. He said:

"For the first time this [White paper] offers the prospect of real
clarity for the public on how they can use their bicycles as part of
their wider journey. It should encourage more commuters to give up
their cars in favour of bikes when travelling from home to the
station. The measures announced today may actually lead to fewer
bikes on commuters trains because cyclists will have access to more
secure cycle parking at stations and feel safer about leaving their
bikes there."

The white paper says:

There is a strong synergy between cycling and rail. Used in
combination, they provide one of the most environmentally friendly
options for travel to work. This form of commuting is likely to
expand as concern about climate change grows. It is in the railway's
commercial and environmental interests to facilitate this.

Action is needed to include cycling provision to, from and at
stations, and on board trains. Local authorities already have powers
and resources to provide safe cycle routes to any destination and the
pilot station travel plans will encourage a more joined-up and
environmentally focussed approach to station access. But cycle
storage facilities are also important since the priority requirement
is to facilitate use of cycles for travel to work, and commuters are
those most likely to want to store their bikes, rather than take them
onto the busiest trains. The adequacy of cycle storage facilities at
stations varies widely, as does the quality of their management.
Improving cycle facilities at stations is also the key link in most
cycle-plus-rail journeys, which require a distinct focus.

To provide the necessary focus in this area, ATOC, Cycling England,
Network Rail and Passenger Focus will be invited to form a Cycle-Rail
Task Force, actively supported by the Government. The Task Force's
job will be to promote best practice (particularly at stations), to
help Government get the detail of the franchising regime right, and
to monitor the effectiveness of measures to promote cycle-plus-rail
travel.

Future franchises will clarify the position on carriage of cycles on
trains:

. Folding bicycles should be able to be carried at all times, free of
charge.

. Train operators should be able to exclude non-folding cycles during
peak periods. Train operators are best placed to know where such
pressure exists. The apparent attractions of a single national set of
rules are outweighed by the fact that it would be unduly restrictive,
because it would subject lightly used services to the more onerous
restrictions necessary on busy commuter routes.

. Train operators should normally require advance reservation where
there are limited cycle spaces on trains, so that cyclists do not
discover too late that there is no room for their cycle. Where there
is pressure on space, operators may consider charging a reasonable
fare for that reservation. Not all do or will want to. But all
operators should ensure that a passenger-fare and any cycle-
reservation can be booked together at the same time.

. Operators must indicate clearly against each service on the
timetable whether or not cycles are permitted, whether there is a
charge and whether reservations are required; a reservation must
guarantee the space. Cyclists should not have to refer to separate
guidance.

It now seems that the improvements we have been asking to be made
with regards to local trains and services may well follow suit.

More information will be made available when the paper is
made public.