Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has donated over a 1,000 bikes to charity this week. The bikes donated were ones which were found abandoned at the networks stations.

The train operator has been making donations for two years as the pandemic prevented the auctioning of the bikes. Due to the amount of abandoned bikes collected, Govia Thameslink Railway looked for an alternative use for the bikes.

Govia Thameslink Railway makes large donations to six charity partners across the network. The charities which receive these donations all have bike recycling schemes and promote the use of bikes for their health sustainability benefits.

The train operator has delivered a number of bikes to Cycleworks since a partnership was set up back in 2021.

Chris Fowler, Customer Services Director for Southern, said: “It’s fantastic to be working with Community Cycleworks and our other partners to promote healthy, green transport by extending the life of previously unwanted bikes. Cycleworks are making these bikes roadworthy and safe for young, deserving new owners, at the same time giving them the skills to make the best long-term use of them. By encouraging young people to cycle and look after their bikes we’re creating lasting benefits for their future.”

Stewart Vanns, Founder/Director of Community Cycleworks, said: “We are grateful to GTR for supporting more people into cycling with the donation of bikes. Before our partnership, our flow of donations was ‘patchy’. Now we have a regular delivery from GTR we are able to provide a more timely service to people that sign up for our ‘Build a Bike’ scheme.

“These bikes go to local people, families, or children, who may otherwise struggle to afford a bike. Once riding, people then have access to our support services and drop-in Bike Fix to help them maintain and repair their bikes in the future.

“Thanks too to Vistry Partnership, our other partner who kindly covers the mechanics’ worktime.”