CrossCountry has funded a novel static bicycle for a community group in the north of England that can be used on station platforms and adapted for knitting scarves, blending smoothies, or charging mobile phones.

The innovative machine, named the “Cyclo Knitter”, was unveiled at Newcastle station yesterday, Monday, 19th June, by the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership and rail industry leaders.

The idea for the Cyclo Knitter came from Dutch artist George Barret-Jones, who in 2018 published a video online of his Cyclo Knitter at Eindhoven railway station in The Netherlands.

The North Eastern version was funded by a £3,000 investment from CrossCountry‘s community engagement fund, and constructed by Geoff Wallman of Northern Skunkworks in Hexham, who designed and built it so that it is a fully-accessible machine that can be transported by train.

The multi-functionality of the machine allows riders to use it to knit scarves, blend smoothies or charge their mobile phones simply by swapping attachments.

It is hoped that the Cyclo Knitter will encourage rail users to stop and have a chat whilst waiting for their train or become involved with community rail in the North East.

CrossCountry’s Stakeholder Liaison Manager for the North East & Scotland, Alex Bray, said: “It’s fantastic to support the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership with such a creative project that will definitely spark a few conversations with passengers on platforms.

“I’d invite anyone who spots the Cyclo Knitter at their station to come and have a go, have a chat – and perhaps even get a nice new scarf for their return journey.”

Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership’s Director, Julie Gibbon, said: “It is a wonderful tool to engage people – wherever we take it, people come to talk to us; they are intrigued, amazed and excited by it and we aim to inspire them to be creative themselves be it knitting a scarf, looking at how it all works, visiting the Tyne Valley, travelling by train, being more active or just smiling and lifting their spirits.”