Motorists are being encouraged to use greener forms of transport when travelling to and from train stations, thanks to a series of pilot programmes around the country.

A total of 24 station travel plan pilot schemes, covering 31 stations, were launched in June, with the aim of finding out how more rail passengers could be persuaded to leave their cars at home and use public transport, cycle or walk to cut traffic congestion.

The station travel plan scheme has been developed by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) in close co-operation with train companies, local authorities, Network Rail, Passenger Focus, the Rail Safety and Standards Board and the Campaign for Better Transport.

In the first three months, the pilots have already brought benefits to rail passengers around the country. Examples include:

· 540 additional cycle spaces to be shared between Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly following a £1m joint funding grant from Cycle England.
· 23 people signed up with the website www.liftshare.com following an event at Leighton Buzzard Station to encourage drivers to share cars. A campaign to promote cycling has also been running at the station and on average three commuters a week have pledged to join the scheme.
· As part of a £5m refurbishment of St Albans City Station, there has been a 30% increase in the number of cycle spaces in the car park.
· Spaces have been installed for 50 extra cyclists at Leamington Spa Station. A cycle map has also been distributed to rail users, showing cycle routes to and from the station around the town. Discussions are also ongoing to create dedicated car share spaces.
· A new car park is being built at Stoke-on-Trent Station with sheltered areas for cycles and motorbikes.

More plans will be implemented throughout the rest of 2009. Research will be carried out in 2011 to evaluate how effective these pilot schemes have been.

Rail is responsible for around 0.5% of the UK carbon emissions in this country, while road transport makes up 21%. Over the last decade, carbon emissions for rail have fallen by 25% and roads by just 9%.

“We are delighted that the station travel plan pilot schemes are progressing so well. This long term project shows how operators are working constructively with other stakeholders to extend the environmental benefits of trains beyond railway stations and into local communities,” said David Mapp, Commercial Director of ATOC and Chair of the National Steering Group for the Station Travel Plan Pilot Project.