News > Press Releases >MVA Consultancy uses smarter travel expertise to help get rail industry on track

MVA Consultancy uses smarter travel expertise to help get rail industry on track

<< Go Back

Transport planning specialist, MVA Consultancy will be sharing the secrets of successful station travel planning at a conference hosted by ACT Travelwise and Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) on June 18 and 19 in Southend.

Jon Foley, managing consultant at sponsors MVA Consultancy, will address industry experts, consultants and senior local authority decision-makers from across the UK at the event hosted by Southend Borough Council, where Transport Minister Lord Adonis will unveil a progress summary of the plans currently being piloted at 24 towns nationwide led by ATOC and the Department for Transport.

The event is aimed at those involved in pilot projects and is designed to raise awareness of the benefits of station travel planning and promote good practice across the industry.

Jon said: “By their nature, the rail industry and local authorities do not always have shared objectives and priorities when it comes to station access, although encouraging more people to travel by train is undoubtedly a common goal.

“The dilemma comes when a train operating company and local authority have to reconcile sometimes conflicting views on issues such as the role of an expanded station car parking in facilitating that growth.

“An effective station travel plan has the potential to identify a mutually beneficial strategy, leading to a package of measures. It can also be the perfect vehicle to build the partnership of train operating companies and local authorities to deliver some credible joint goals and outcomes.”

MVA’s Smarter Travel Directorate is headed by Conrad Haigh, who was named ACTTravelWise travel planner of the year in 2008. He believes that station travel plans are one of the most recent smarter travel innovations developed to provide practical and cost-effective management around travel to and from station interchanges.

He said:  “A station travel plan has the potential to enable greater emphasis to be placed on encouraging access to a station by alternatives to private cars, managing the demand for car parking and also, by improving access to the station, expediting the growth in rail passenger numbers.

“Jon and I have been fortunate enough to be involved in extensive work in this area and we look forward to helping spread best practice across the UK by sharing our knowledge and experience.”

In addition to a number of speakers outlining case study experience the event will include a range of workshops covering the key aspects involved in developing a successful project including writing a station travel plan, providing for separate modes, marketing, advertising and promotion, as well as linking the plan with other projects.

www.acttravelwise.org
www.mvaconsultancy.com

Information for Editors:

Industry-leader MVA Consultancy provides advice on transport and other policy areas, to central, regional and local government, agencies, developers, operators and financiers

A diverse group of results-oriented people, we are part of a 550-strong team worldwide. Through client business planning, customer research and strategy development we create solutions that work for real people in the real world.

For further information please contact:

Emma O'Sullivan on 01483 742925
or email eosullivan@mvaconsultancy.com

or

Sarah White on 01483 742975
or email swhite@mvaconsultancy.com

26 May 2009