More car parking spaces at Crewe station from 14 December 2009

Increased parking facilities will be available for users of Crewe railway station from Monday 14th December 2009.

Due to customer concerns that the existing railway car park at Pedley Street is at capacity early in the morning, Virgin Trains has taken out a lease on part of a Lorry Park located in Cowley Way, off Weston Road, a short distance from the station. This will provide a further 365 parking spaces, in addition to the 500 spaces at the current Pedley Street site.

Walking time from Cowley Way to the railway station is under ten minutes.

For the safety and security of users, the car park also has CCTV throughout with 24 hour recording. Payment machines are located in the booking hall at Crewe station.

An introductory charging structure is to be offered, including attractive daily rates, both for peak and even further discounts for off peak users.

All-day weekday parking at Cowley Way will only cost £4 a day. A new off-peak rate, available on weekdays after 10:00 will be £2 and a the charge at weekends and Bank Holidays will be £1. Monthly, six monthly and annual season tickets are also available. These offer significant further discounts for regular peak time users. The new monthly ticket costs £49 effectively offering daily parking, based on 20 days use a month at just £2.45 a day. The annual ticket is priced at £490 and if used for just 45 weeks a year offers an equivalent daily parking rate of just £2.18 a day.

Virgin Trains Station Manager at Crewe Sam Dixon said: “The limited parking facilities at Crewe station have caused problems for rail travellers in recent years. Now with over 350 extra spaces everyone should be able to find a parking space, and the special weekend rates should appeal to shoppers and leisure travellers. The location of the car park will allow customers driving from the south of the town to avoid the heavily congested area around Nantwich Road ”

The car park has a new ‘Pay on Foot’ payment system, where a ticket is issued on entry to the car park. Payment must then be made at the machine in the booking hall at Crewe station prior to customers returning to their car to exit the car park.

Sam Dixon added: "More passengers are travelling by train than ever before and the demand for rail travel is set to continue to rise. We predict that a large proportion of these extra passengers will drive to the station, putting even more strain on the car park.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
The full pricing structure for Crewe (Cowley Way) car park is:
All day (Mondays-Fridays) £4.00
After 10:00 Monday-Friday £2.00
Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays £1.00
Monthly Season Ticket £49.00
Six-month Season Ticket £258.00
Annual Season Ticket £490.00