Four electric vehicle (EV) charging points have been installed at one of TPE’s (TransPennine Express’) North Yorkshire stations – the first at the train operator's car parks. Customers using the station will now be able to charge their vehicles while they travel by train from Thirsk.
The new 22kW facilities were switched on today and I was pleased to be able to try out the charging points with my own EV.
A full charge will take between 4-6 hours, depending on the type of car and will cost 55p per kWh, alongside to the usual car parking fee.
Users will be able to pay via the APCOA Connect App which allows them to easily locate and pay for charging sessions.
Nicola Martin, Head of Sustainability at TPE said: “Providing EV chargers is central to the UK’s transport decarbonisation plans and our own sustainability strategy. We hope the provision within a rural community helps our customers who travel from further afield to Thirsk station can do so more sustainably.
"It is our aim to roll out EV charge points at other TPE stations in due course, recognising that more and more people are increasingly embracing electric vehicles. It is therefore important that we as a train operator have the facilities at our stations for local communities.”
Sustainability improvements have been made at Thirsk Station in recent months, including upgrades to heating and lighting to make them more energy efficient.
TPE has also created 800 square meters of wildflower grassland at Thirsk including 90 meters of native hedgerows, 7 trees, 175 square meters of native scrub, and 5 insect hotels, along with pollinator-friendly plants in planters.
As an EV owner myself, I'm thrilled to see these new charging points at Thirsk station. This will make it much easier for local drivers to choose greener travel options. It's great to see North Yorkshire leading the way in supporting the shift to electric vehicles and I hope to see more of these facilities across the constituency.