As part of the drive to encourage more people to cycle to and from their local train stations, Southeastern has opened a raft of new cycle hubs.
Customers who use the railway stations at Birchington-on-Sea, Folkestone Central, Dover Priory, Marden, Walmer and Westgate-on-Sea now have modern, secure facilities to store their bikes.
For added security there is a key-fob entry system and all the hubs have additional CCTV. There are also charging points for electric bikes, plus cycle pumps and repair stands.
Making rail stations more accessible and affordable to cycle passengers is a key aim of Southeastern, and a lower price structure has been put in place for customers who want to store bikes at these newly opened hubs.
People living in Walmer for example can now get a 12-month subscription for just £15. (Currently £50 at existing hubs, though these prices are set to be reduced also). A six-month subscription costs £8 and it’s only £5 for three months.
Southeastern’s General Manager South, Mark Borny, said:
“As an all-electric train operator we truly believe in greener travel. We want people to leave their cars behind and give cycling to our stations a go. It’s much healthier and helps to reduce harmful emissions.
“We already have 21 secure cycle hubs across our network and opening six new hubs this summer really underlines our commitment to active travel.
“We’ve also brought down our prices as we know people are feeling the pinch.”
Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Neil Baker, said:
“We know that having a safe and secure area to store your bicycle has immense benefits, giving that extra peace of mind and making public transport more attractive.
“By providing part of the funding to install these facilities, we are furthering our ambition to encourage people to make more sustainable choices when considering how they move around our county and beyond.”
David Hibbs, Cycle Rail Programme Manager at Sustrans which manages the Cycle Rail Grant Programme said:
"Combining cycling and rail is a great way to make your journey more sustainable and healthier. The new cycle hubs, jointly funded by the Government’s Cycle Rail Programme, provide value for money and make cycling to and from the station an even more attractive option."
