Is this the Netherlands, or Chelmsford? ask cyclists faced with hundreds of bikes parked at station

Corrections needed to this article.  The Cyclepoint unit closed several months ago, so no access to " Bike & Go" cycles nor changing rooms.  Greater Anglia were given £160,000 in 2015 by Government to add extra cycle racks to those in the photo, but GA have not done that, so you see bikes chained to posts.

I'm not a big fan of the restrictions that Abellio put on taking bikes on the local network around the Dunwich Dynamo. Although it did motivate me to do it on a folding bike this year to get round the restrictions, which was fun!

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I think I know the answer but don't you ever read the articles you produce?

What fun would that be?

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In July 2013 1,000 bike parking spaces were installed at Chelmsford Station, the first of five CyclePoint facilities installed across Abellio Greater Anglia’s stations.

According to the train company, Cheltenham Station’s cycle parking which, like other CyclePoint facilities includes changing rooms as well as cycle parking, is “regularly close to capacity”.

Cheltenham or Chelmsford?

I think I know the answer but don't you ever read the articles you produce?

I had my best train/bicycle experience on the East Anglian network.

I had to get a bike to Ipswich, so that I could visit the other half in hospital, and not spend the whole day on the buses going back and forth because of the restrictive visiting hours.  Initially tried to buy a good second hand in Ipswich's bike shop, but was treated with contemp at what appeared to be a good one near the hospital and so was discouraged.  Borrowed a friends (New wheels, tyres and cables, fair deal).

I am used to the need to book/fear of Virgin and Great Western intercity, (but a great fan of GW local services).  Phoned up East Anglian, said no need to book.  So was concerned.

Friday evening comes Reading-Paddington easy as because so many trains I knew if I couldn't get on one I could get on the next, felt strange sclepping the bike on the not so deep underground, always being prepared to wait for a quiet one, and got to Liverpool Street.  Said hello to the guard, and wandered down the HST/Intercity 125, opened the door expecting Virgin's cubicle or Great Westerns tiny guard box and found a space that could easily accomodate 50 bicycles, of all configerations.  With stands, better than most bike parking I use, that I could lock my bike to.   Far better than the distant memories of how cross countries HST used to be or the guards van on the slam door locals.

Local stopping when I had to take the bike back, but I will remember that one journey with fondness as an example of how it could be.

If you build it, they will come.

Impressive indeed, but you can tell it's not the Netherlands by looking at the type of bikes in the racks. A very British mix of MTBs, fixies and bike-shaped-objects. :- )