A SCHEME to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home is set to be rolled out in Southend.

Better bus stops, cycle storage facilities and passenger information are among the ways the Government is aiming to get rail users to use environmentally friendly forms of transport to and from stations.

The pilot project will be run at both Southend Central and Southend Victoria rail stations.

Southend Council has been chosen as one of just four authorities in the east of England to take part in the Government’s new Station Travel Plan initiative.

Anna Waite, councillor responsible for transport, welcomed the scheme which she said would reduce traffic congestion around stations.

She said: “We are delighted that two rail stations within the borough, Southend Central and Southend Victoria, have been chosen to take part in the station travel plan initiative.

“Over the next nine months, we will be carrying out extensive passenger research to understand how and why passengers choose particular modes of transport to access the rail stations. Specific travel plans will then be developed and implemented during 2009.”

Geraint Hughes, a manager for National Express East Anglia and c2c, said: “We are delighted both of our local rail businesses are involved in this important pilot project in Southend.

“By working in partnership with the council on the development of station travel plans in Southend, we can jointly improve access to stations and encourage even more people to travel by train. We hope that travel plans can be extended to other stations in the area in due course.”

The project was launched nationally last week by transport secretary Ruth Kelly with station travel plans to be developed for 24 pilot schemes covering 31 stations across the country.