§ Mr. TruswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with rail operators concerning ways of further facilitating the use of trains by cyclists with particular reference to(a) the removal or reduction of carriage charges for bicycles and (b) improvements in storage; and if he will make a statement. [118100]
§ Mr. HillThe Secretary of State has had no such discussions. The current franchise agreements permit train operators to make a reasonable charge for carrying bicycles although this is a matter for the operators' commercial discretion and a number do not levy any charges. In the current franchise replacement negotiations, we have asked the Franchising Director to promote the 173W use of bicycles by seeking the reasonable provision by train operators of facilities for the carriage of cycles on trains and the storage of cycles at stations.