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Salisbury station ‘green’ travel upgrade link opens

Representatives of South Western Railway (SWR), Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire College and University Centre and Co Bikes were at Salisbury station recently for the launch of the station’s new cycle hub.

The hub is a joint project between the organisations and will provide 74 cycle parking spaces and an e-bike docking station. It was officially opened by Cllr Tom Corbin, Mayor of Salisbury, who is also a SWR train driver.
The hub marks the first phase of forecourt improvements, which SWR is part-funding the £360,000 costs through its Customer and Communities Improvement Fund, as well as the sustainable onward travel options at its stations that it hopes will reduce the number of unnecessary car journeys.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, cabinet member for transport, said: “We’re really excited that the new cycle hub and e-bike docking station is now open providing visitors and residents viable, environmentally friendly alternatives to the car for their journey to and from Salisbury railway station.
“A key part of our business plan is investment in cycle routes to connect our local communities and to provide options for different modes of transport. To outline our commitment to this, we have put in a Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) bid for a further three e-bike hubs in Salisbury.”
Wiltshire College and University Centre is installing a Co Bikes docking station at its Salisbury Campus to improve the green travel offer for students and staff arriving at the station.

Steve Campion, deputy principal corporate resources at Wiltshire College and University Centre, said: “We are excited to be able to offer our growing student population at our newly refurbished Salisbury campus a sustainable way to travel around the city.
“The e-bike option provides a nine-minute connection from campus to station, using Salisbury’s established cycle network. This will also help support the health and well-being agenda that we promote to all our staff and students.”
Helen Scholes, marketing and partnerships at Co Bikes said: “We’re delighted to launch our first e-bike hub in Salisbury in partnership with South Western Railway.
“Our data shows that, of all the e-bike trips taken this year, over a third started or ended at a train station, demonstrating how well bike share and trains integrate with one another. I look forward to working with Wiltshire Council on further hubs around the city.”

Andrew Ardley, SWR’s regional development manager for the west of England, said: “Rail travel is one of the most environmentally friendly mass transport options and so SWR is delighted that this project is now a reality, giving customers using Salisbury station sustainable and practical travel options for their onward journey as well as a secure place to store their own bikes.
“This scheme is only the
first stage of a much bigger improvement planned for the forecourt.”

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