As part of the first phase of improvements to Salisbury station, South Western Railway (SWR) has opened a new cycle hub.

The Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr Tom Corbin, who is also a train driver for South Western Railway, officially opened the hub. It was part-funded by South Western Railway through their Customer and Communities Improvement Fund and is a joint project with the Department for Transport, Wiltshire Council, and Co Bikes. They were present at the launch together with representatives from Wiltshire College and University Centre.

With 74 cycle parking spaces and an e-bike docking station, the £360,000 addition to the station is a further contribution to South Western Railway’s drive for an increase in sustainable onward travel options at its stations. It adds to the railway’s expanding number of convenient green options for transport across its network, especially in the West of England, where it joins e-bike facilities already available at stations at Cranbrook, Honiton, Pinhoe, Exeter Central, and Exeter St. David’s.

South Western Railway is looking for ways to reduce the number of unnecessary car journeys and are pleased that Wiltshire College and University Centre is also installing a Co Bikes docking station at its Salisbury Campus. That will improve the options for green travel for its students and staff, and the railway hopes that this will be the first of many across Salisbury and the surrounding area to link up with the station.

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.”

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.”

Helen Scholes, Marketing and Partnerships at Co Bikes commented:“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 train integrate with one another. Our next hub will open shortly at Wiltshire College and University Centre and I look forward to working with Wiltshire Council on further hubs around the city.”

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 9-minute connection from campus to station, using Salisbury’s established cycle network. This will also help support the health and wellbeing agenda that we promote to all our staff and students.”