£400,000 pledged to improve rail journeys for Scotland's cyclists

ScotRail, the franchise holder for train services within Scotland, has launched a £400,000 Cycle Fund aimed at making at easier for people to undertake journeys combining bike and rail.

The initiative will provide £100,000 each year for the next four years to local authorities and other organisations in line with the rail operator’s pledge to make “doorstep to destination” trips as easy as possible.

Kathryn Mackay, ScotRail Alliance Cycling Manager, commented: “We’ve delivered an unprecedented investment in cycling in recent years, with the provision of Bike & Go at 12 stations, and over 1,200 extra cycle spaces.

“The £400,000 Cycling Fund will allow us to continue this investment by delivering our vision of a seamless ‘doorstep to destination’ journey for customers.

“We are encouraging councils and local community groups to take advantage of this great opportunity,” she added.

“It’s all part of our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had.”

According to ScotRail, whose franchise is run by Abellio, a subsidiary of Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the Dutch national railway operator, the Cycle Fund will be used for projects which:

Improve directions and signs.

Upgrade connections between stations and other local services such as schools and town centres.

Improve marketing and promotion of cycling to stations

Introduce new facilities for customers accessing stations by bike.

Humza Yousaf, Scottish Transport Minister, said: “The Scottish Government is committed to getting more people to make active travel choices by encouraging modal shift wherever possible.

“The Cycle Fund offers organisations the opportunity to work with ScotRail to deliver enhanced cycling infrastructure and encourage as many people as possible to integrate cycling into their everyday journeys.”

He continued: “This is all part of our core vision to make the railway as accessible as possible and jointly supports the Scottish Government’s vision to increase the number of people using rail, and the proportion of journeys made by bike.”

Earlier this year, we reported how dedicated carriages for bicycles could be introduced to railway routes in the west of Scotland in line with a pledge made by the Scottish Government in the autumn as well a recommendation in a report compiled by a firm of civil engineers.

In September, publishing its programme for 2017/18, the Scottish Government said it was exploring “introducing dedicated carriages for cycles and other outdoor sports equipment on rural routes in the north and west” of the country.