Over 300 bicycles have been donated to charity by train operator Greater Anglia.
The abandoned cycles were donated to Re-Cycle. The charity sends the bikes to rural communities in Africa.
Cycles were tagged at stations across the network. If the tag was removed from the cycle after a period of time, then it indicated it was still in use.
Any with tags left on were then removed and donated to charity.
Over 1,000 cycles were tagged at stations including Broxbourne, Norwich, Cambridge cycle point and Chelmsford.
As well as sending the bikes to Africa, Re-Cycle also trains mechanics on how to repair and service the bikes.
Krzysztof Drozd, Greater Anglia Station Cleaning & Waste Manager, said: “We are very pleased to support Re-Cycle by donating these abandoned bikes from various station across our network.”
“People living in rural Africa can walk for miles a day to collect water, or to get to school or work. A bike can change someone’s life, and we are pleased to be able to help Re-Cycle with their mission to help people in Africa access sustainable bike transport.”
“We would like to remind passengers that our cycle storage facilities are for short term use only and people should not leave cycles for longer periods of time.”
“We would also advise cyclists to use good quality locks while securing their bikes.”
Claire Kettle, Operations Director for the charity Re-Cycle said: “Re-Cycle is delighted to partner with Greater Anglia and very grateful for all of the abandoned bicycles donated to us this year.　 These bikes help so many people in Africa with no other transport options to be independent and the added benefit of our reuse and repurpose ethic, is fewer bikes being sent to landfill in the UK.”
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Responses
Perhaps Greater Anglia should start allowing the Class 720s to operate on the West Anglia main line service to Cambridge, Cambridge North, Kings Lynn, Ely, Stansted Airport and Bishops Stortford. Stratford-Hertford East, Stansted Airport stopping services and Bishops Stortford and Stratford-Meridian Water shuttle service.
And allowing the Class 720s to continue operating from Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, Colchester Town, Manningtree, Harwich Town and Ipswich Great Eastern services as the Class 720s have started operating services from Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria, Southminster and Braintree. And to operate the Liverpool Street-Norwich stopper service which includes stopping at Stratford, Shenfield, Chelmsford, Witham, Marks Tey, Colchester, Manningtree, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Diss.