Date: 08 Feb 2008 10:13
Chiltern Railways has recently launched a car-sharing scheme to reduce travel costs as well as congestion and pollution for its passengers. The scheme is accessed through Chiltern’s new website and enables passengers to share lifts to any destination.
Passengers can access the scheme from home or work at www.chilterncarshare.co.uk and register their journey details for free. The system will then tell them if anyone else is going in the same direction, leaving it up to them to make contact through a secure e-mail connection, and arrange to share both the journey and the costs of travel.
The software behind the system has been provided by the specialist car-sharing company, liftshare, which has established more than 900 car-sharing schemes for communities across the UK.
As well as reducing travel costs, the scheme has been designed to encourage more efficient use of the car, thereby reducing congestion and pollution in the local area.
Ray Cutler, aged 43, travels from Watford to Denham Station and will use Chiltern Carshare between Watford and Denham Station. Ray said: “Chiltern Carshare will cut the fuel cost on every shared journey, therefore making my vehicle more efficient.”
Chrys Handy, aged 52, lives in Solihull. Chrys will use Chiltern Carshare to get to and from work. Chrys said: “I usually put approx £50 worth of fuel in my car every 10 days or so which is extended to 20 days if I am sharing – plus company on a 30 – 50 minute journey each way. My advice to a first time user is to go for it. With the current price of fuel, any savings must be worthwhile!”
For more information about the scheme, visit www.chilterncarshare.co.uk.
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For further media information please contact the Chiltern Railways press office on 020 7333 3014 or mailto: emma.gascoigne@chilternrailways.co.uk.