Virgin Trains season tickets holders are now able to make completely sustainable journeys by benefiting from a fold up bicycle scheme in operation at Stoke on Trent station.
A former postal depot at Stoke on Trent station, which has been used for storage, has been redeveloped to house 50 Brompton fold up bikes, which are available for hire. The scheme has been funded through Cycling England.
Fold-up bikes have been chosen in order to make commuters’ journeys as easy as possible: they do not need to be booked on to trains and can be collapsed and taken into meetings at the office or into homes. The Brompton bikes, which are in Virgin Trains distinctive red colours, will be available for a small charge of £5 per day, discounts for regular weekly (£20), or monthly (£60) use will also be available.
James Wright, Cycle Rail Project Manager at Virgin Trains, said: “Virgin Trains is delighted to be launching this scheme to our customers. This is the first of its kind to the area and we hope that it will be so successful that we see similar schemes rolled out across the country.”
Heather Hodkinson, Virgin Trains’ Station Manager at Stoke on Trent, said: “Over two million passenger journeys are year are made through Stoke-on-Trent station and all expect a speedy, low- carbon journey. The scheme will ensure that we can deliver the environmental message beyond our trains and our stations.”
For further information or to book Virgin Trains log on to www.virgintrains.com, telephone 0871 977 4222 or visit any Virgin Trains’ station.
- Ends –
For further information please contact Anna Butterworth on 020 7403 6900 or email anna.butterworth@spider-pr.com.
Images available:
SBS01: Virgin Trains station staff James Sherridan and Nathan Barber join Station Manager Sheila Breeze and Cycle Project Manager James Wright along with Paul Swinnerton from local cycle Stoke store Swinnerton Cycles, who will maintain the bikes, for the launch of the cycle hire scheme at Stoke-on-Trent station.
SBS02: From bike to train. Virgin Trains station staff James Sherridan and Nathan Barber promote the Brompton fold-up cycles now available for hire by season ticket holders at Stoke-on-Trent station.
Notes to Editors
Images of Virgin Trains and the company’s operations are available in the Image Library on our online Media Room website www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/
You can subscribe to receive alerts to new press releases by visiting www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/
Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012 and we have been short-listed for the new franchise.
Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach.
Virgin Trains has been recognised in numerous industry awards. In 2010 the company has been named Best Rail Operator of the Year at the Travel Globe Awards (voted for by readers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard), and Best Rail Operator in the Group Leisure Awards (which we also won in 2009).. In 2009 we were also voted Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine for the second year running. Virgin Trains first achieved Investors In People accreditation in 2007and this was renewed in 2010; the IIP Gold award was achieved in 2011.
A former postal depot at Stoke on Trent station, which has been used for storage, has been redeveloped to house 50 Brompton fold up bikes, which are available for hire. The scheme has been funded through Cycling England.
Fold-up bikes have been chosen in order to make commuters’ journeys as easy as possible: they do not need to be booked on to trains and can be collapsed and taken into meetings at the office or into homes. The Brompton bikes, which are in Virgin Trains distinctive red colours, will be available for a small charge of £5 per day, discounts for regular weekly (£20), or monthly (£60) use will also be available.
James Wright, Cycle Rail Project Manager at Virgin Trains, said: “Virgin Trains is delighted to be launching this scheme to our customers. This is the first of its kind to the area and we hope that it will be so successful that we see similar schemes rolled out across the country.”
Heather Hodkinson, Virgin Trains’ Station Manager at Stoke on Trent, said: “Over two million passenger journeys are year are made through Stoke-on-Trent station and all expect a speedy, low- carbon journey. The scheme will ensure that we can deliver the environmental message beyond our trains and our stations.”
For further information or to book Virgin Trains log on to www.virgintrains.com, telephone 0871 977 4222 or visit any Virgin Trains’ station.
- Ends –
For further information please contact Anna Butterworth on 020 7403 6900 or email anna.butterworth@spider-pr.com.
Images available:
SBS01: Virgin Trains station staff James Sherridan and Nathan Barber join Station Manager Sheila Breeze and Cycle Project Manager James Wright along with Paul Swinnerton from local cycle Stoke store Swinnerton Cycles, who will maintain the bikes, for the launch of the cycle hire scheme at Stoke-on-Trent station.
SBS02: From bike to train. Virgin Trains station staff James Sherridan and Nathan Barber promote the Brompton fold-up cycles now available for hire by season ticket holders at Stoke-on-Trent station.
Notes to Editors
Images of Virgin Trains and the company’s operations are available in the Image Library on our online Media Room website www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/
You can subscribe to receive alerts to new press releases by visiting www.virgintrains.co.uk/about/media-room/
Virgin Trains is the brand name of Virgin Rail Group. We have operated the West Coast passenger train franchise since 1997; the current franchise runs to March 2012 and we have been short-listed for the new franchise.
Virgin Rail Group is owned 51 percent by Virgin Group and 49 percent by Stagecoach.
Virgin Trains has been recognised in numerous industry awards. In 2010 the company has been named Best Rail Operator of the Year at the Travel Globe Awards (voted for by readers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard), and Best Rail Operator in the Group Leisure Awards (which we also won in 2009).. In 2009 we were also voted Best UK Domestic Train Service by Business Traveller magazine for the second year running. Virgin Trains first achieved Investors In People accreditation in 2007and this was renewed in 2010; the IIP Gold award was achieved in 2011.
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