Integrated Rail announcement fails on multi-modal travel, say cycle campaigners – Cycle Industry News
Laura Laker 26 November, 2021
Campaigners are calling for the government to make good on its promises for better cycle provisions on trains, as the latest Integrated Rail announcement failed to outline how cycle-rail targets will be met. Meanwhile, parts of the rail industry are looking to provide for growing signs of a resurgence in the leisure rail market.
The Shapps-Williams review, launched in May, set out a vision for the future of rail in Britain, including a new Great British Railways body to reverse the trend of declining on-board cycle space, “increasing space on existing trains wherever practically possible, including on popular leisure routes.” It added: “All future train fleets will need to include more bike spaces relevant to the markets served.” However, there are scant details on how this will be achieved.
Rail ridership remains at 41.6% of pre-pandemic levels, while the industry is anticipating a long-term increase in leisure travel demand as people are encouraged to leave cars at home. Cycle-rail journeys are already part of a long-term trend, with journeys where a bicycle is parked at the station increasing by 75% in the decade pre-pandemic.
