Merseyrail wins grant support for cycle scheme

Merseyrail has been awarded £1m to install cycle facilities such as secure lockers and racks at 18 stations in Sefton and Wirral.

A joint bid from the Merseyrail franchise and passenger transport authority Merseytravel secured the funding from Cycling England under its national Cycling Demonstration Train Operator scheme.

The will also be cycle hire and cycle repair facilities at Southport station provided in partnership with Sefton Borough Council.

Bart Schmeink, Merseyrail's managing director, said: "It is our intention to make cycling a mainstream way of getting to and from our stations to discourage car use and car parking at stations for relatively short journeys and to encourage a healthy life style. These new facilities will encourage passengers to leave their car at home and cycle to the station instead."

The stations that will benefit are Southport, Birkdale, Hillside, Ainsdale, Freshfields, Formby, Hightown, Hall Road, Blundellsands & Crosby, Birkenhead Central, Green Lane, Rock Ferry, Bebington, Port Sunlight, Spital, Bromborough, Eastham Rake and Hooton.

All the facilities will be in place by late 2010.