Brompton pods...coming to a train station near you?

On 7th July, South West Trains  launched the UK’s first ‘self-service’ Brompton Bicycle rental scheme at Guildford Station (see photo).  The solar-powered Brompton bike dock has been installed by a partnership between South West Trains and Brompton Bicycle, the folding bike manufacturer

The scheme is designed to "encourage passengers to cycle as part of a fully integrated low carbon journey combining bike and train."

The company offers bikes for hire to South West Trains season ticket holders and the general public. These bikes have no travel restrictions and can be carried on all South West Trains services as long as the folding cycles are stowed as luggage.

The Brompton dock currently holds 50 bikes (but can be expanded up to 80 bikes) in the same area as one car parking space. The dock is a ‘self-contained’ unit entirely powered by solar-panels, manufactured in the UK and is made from 95% of recycling material. Passengers who want to cycle to or from Guildford station and use the dock should register and purchase a smartcard online  for £50 a year. To hire a bike simply swipe the card on a locker door, take the bike, and off you go.  The hire period can be for as short or long as you like, and hire prices go from £4 for a single day hire, to £2 per day for hires of seven days or more, dropping to £1.60 per day if you for hire periods of 23 days and up.


The eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted the small posters, with the slogan "From bike to train with just a snap, click and fold" that have been appearing at Manchester Piccadilly train station advertising a Brompton hire scheme based at Stoke train station.  (See photo).

The Brompton system at Stoke station is reported to be a "manual" system with human operators handing out the Brompton bicycles (and presumably showing some people how to fold/unfold the bikes!).

Now, there are strong rumours that Manchester Piccadilly will soon (!) be getting an automated Brompton docking system  a-la Guildford...... although there appear to be some security concerns as Piccadilly is classed as nationally important transport infrastructure... but hopefully such concerns can be sorted.  More details as they arrive.....