Innovators lauded at National Cycle Rail Awards

A range of high profile projects and innovations were lauded at the 2015 National Cycle Rail Awards organised by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).

The ATOC innovation award went to Citymapper for its journey planning app while the door-to-door journey prize was awarded to Northern Rail for its integrated approach to cycling in Greater Manchester.

There were also trophies for Arriva Trains Wales for improvements to cycle provision at Chester Railway Station and British Transport Police British for ‘Operation Lock-It’.

London Borough of Waltham Forest took the London Cycling award while the Station of the Year trophy went to Brighton.

ATOC says that cycle-rail is an “industry success story”, with the number of cycle parking spaces available at stations more than doubling since 2009 to over 63,000. It predicts that the number is set to rise to 75,000 by 2017.

Paul Plummer, chief executive of ATOC and the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The record growth in people using cycles as part of their rail journeys during the last year would not have been possible without the dedication, determination and joint working of train operators, Network Rail and our partners both inside and outside the rail industry.

“This year’s award winners have made outstanding contributions to cycle-rail in areas covering station infrastructure and facilities, passenger information and customer service. They are all worthy winners and I congratulate their work.”

In March this year the Department for Transport announced that a further £14.5m had been granted to improve cycle facilities at railway stations. “This will build upon the great work that has already been done and help to make further significant improvements to cycle-rail facilities across the country in the coming years,” said Plummer.

Transport minister Robert Goodwill said: “Travel by bike and train has never been more popular, with the improved cycling provision at railway stations helping passengers make greener choices for longer journeys. Thanks to government spending we have more cycle spaces at stations than ever before and it’s great to see how innovative and ambitious the industry can be to encourage even more rail passengers to get on their bikes.”

The panel of judges included: Tom Bogdanowicz, London Cycling Campaign; Carol McKinley, CTC; Phillip Darnton, Cycle-Rail Working Group chair; Martin Key, British Cycling; Conrad Haigh, ATOC; Robert Jack, Passenger Transport magazine; Mark Trevethan and Mark Peyton, Transport for London; Martyn Brunt, Sustrans; and Sharon Goodsell, Department for Transport.

The awards, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group and sponsored by Cyclepods, were presented at Central Hall, Westminster, last week.