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WORK STARTS ON £51,500 UPGRADE FOR LEIGHTON BUZZARD STATION
11am, 2 June 2008, Leighton Buzzard station
Please call 0121 654 1278 to confirm your attendance
Leighton Buzzard train station will be safer and more cyclist-friendly after a £51,500 upgrade which starts on Monday, 2 June.
The work, paid for by Bedfordshire County Council and managed by London Midland, includes:
- nearly tripling cycle parking from 24 to 64 spaces
- covered parking for motorcycles
- CCTV
- new shelters
Workers will start adding new cycle parking on Monday morning, with the other work to follow.
Train company London Midland, which runs Leighton Buzzard station, is also planning at least 100 new car parking places by adding a new deck to the station car park, as part of its £5.7 million investment in stations across its network over the next year.
London Midland commercial director Alex Hynes said: "This is one of the first stations to benefit from London Midland's partnership with Bedfordshire County Council to encourage local people to travel by train. As well as adding more car parking, we are making it easier for passengers who want to help the environment by cycling to the station."
At the beginning of May, London Midland introduced half price parking for hybrid and low emission cars, and free parking for electric cars, as well as more convenient ways to buy car park tickets for other drivers including converting Leighton Buzzard car park to pay and display.
Councillor Roy Johnstone, Bedfordshire County Council Development Control Chairman, said: "We are delighted to be working with London Midland to upgrade Leighton Buzzard Station. The council's investment in this project shows our commitment to not only reducing congestion in Leighton Buzzard but to also helping the environment.
"By tripling cycle spaces, installing new stands and shelters, and with more CCTV cameras in operation, we hope people are encouraged to cycle to the station, and feel confident and safe in leaving their bicycles behind."
