"The train now approaching platform one, runs on elctrickery"

Andrew Jones MP sent me a letter. I get a few from him, they are usually him telling me that mine and his parties views don't really align on a particular issue. Often after I have filled in some online protest or other. In fairness he always replies. I'm glad I'm not an MP, people like me must be a right royal pain in the backside.

Anyway this one was different, he was letting me know he has just made the case in Parliament to get the Leeds to York rail line electrified. Why should this humble, ranting, often unwashed cycle campaigner care? Well if it goes all electrical and whizzy you can run more trains. If you can run more trains you might take some cars off the roads. If you took some cars off the road it might make them easier to cycle on, so thats why I'm in favour. Oh and you have the potential to generate your electricity from renewables which means less pollution than diesel, so its better from a quality of life point of view too. Good on our Mp for making the case. He can count on Cycle Harrogate's support for the initiative but I have one request to improve the bid.

Commuting or holidaying by train and then finishing off your journey on a bike has the potential to take the car out of the equation all together. Thing is getting them on a train in this country is often harder than getting a bottle of water on an aircraft in your hand baggage. That is unless you are lover of really shiny things and can afford a funky, folding Brompton.

What would be nice, no what would be great is if we could build in some bike friendly rolling stock into the proposal. We have spent some money making Harrogate station an easy place to cycle from and its due to get easier when the next chunk of LSTF funding money is spent. If we joined up that with a rail network that embraces bikes rather than treats them like lepers. Then we really would be making our sustainable transport offer a little better than it is at the moment.