§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the advice offered to rail companies on the facility for cyclists to take their bicycles on the train. [188417]
§ Mr. McNultyThe franchise agreements by which passenger rail services are procured require franchised train operators to
1390Wso far as reasonably practicable and subject to the availability of appropriate space on its rolling stock, ensure that facilities for the transport of bicycles on trains are made available, at reasonable charges (if any), to passengers using or intending to use the Passenger Service.The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) encourages all train operating companies to tailor their provisions for the carriage of cycles on trains to the demand on particular routes while recognising that cycle provision cannot be considered in isolation but must have regard to the needs of all other rail users. The SRA has recently carried out a consultation of cycle policy and will be publishing a detailed cycle policy in due course. Copies of their Cycle Policy Consultation Document are available in the Libraries of the House.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train companies place restrictions on cyclists taking bicycles on trains. [188418]
§ Mr. McNultyOf the 25 franchised train operators, three carry bicycles on all services without requiring prior reservation, six carry bicycles on all their services but do require prior reservation, one does not require prior reservation but restricts bicycles to off-peak times only and the remaining 15 require both prior reservation and restrict bicycles to off-peak times only. All franchised train operators have a maximum number of cycles which can be carried on any particular train.