Boost for Chester’s ‘green’ travellers

Travelling to work car-free is now a step closer thanks toimproved cycle parking facilities at Chester Railway Station.

Up to 50 cyclists can now park their bikes in a designated, CCTVmonitored area of the railway station following investment byArriva Trains Wales and Cheshire County Council. The project,prompted by feedback from local cycling groups, has more thandoubled the number of cycle spaces available at the station.

The improvements come in the lead up to significantredevelopment of the station concourse area to include a newbooking office and travel information centre, shops, a caféand a small supermarket. The £1.25 million Arriva fundedproject follows the train company's investment in ticket gatedentry and self-service ticket machines at Chester Station in July(2006).

Karen Kinder, Arriva Trains Wales' station manager at Chester,said:

The new cycle parking facilities at Chester Station aregood news for keen cyclists and those thinking about getting fit orchoosing a more environmentally friendly mode of transport to thestation.

Set in a covered, well lit area of the stationconcourse, rail passengers can leave their bikes under the watch ofnew CCTV systems.

John Burke, Cheshire County Council's Executive Member forTransport, said:

This improvement is the first visible evidence of theCounty Council's planned investment of £1.5 million inimproving the Station as a transport interchange. We are keen toencourage more people to use the train to travel to and fromChester and more provision for cycles encourages this.

The wider project to regenerate Chester Station is beingdelivered by The Gateway Partnership which includes Arriva TrainsWales, Network Rail, Chester City Council, Cheshire County Council,Railway Heritage Trust, Merseyrail, Merseytravel, Visit Chester andCheshire, Virgin Trains and the North West Development Agency.

More information about the station regeneration project can befound on Chester City Council's website atwww.chester.gov.uk.

Notes to Editors:

1. For background information on Arriva Trains Wales visitwww.arrivatrainswales.co.uk