WORK has begun on a scheme allowing people to hire Brompton bicycles from Oxford Rail Station.

Brompton Dock, a sister firm of the Brompton cycle company, will offer a fully-automated system allowing users 24-hour access to 40 folding bikes which can be taken on trains during peak times.

Workers were installing the docking system at the station yesterday, pictured, and the bikes will soon be in place.

The dock is being put in place next to the Botley Road footbridge on the station side and is expected to be up and running within a fortnight. Once online you will be able to borrow a bicycle by registering with Brompton Dock and using a PIN which will be sent to your mobile phone via text. Borrowing a Brompton costs up to £5-a- day.

The scheme was initially announced in early October but was delayed to allow First Great Western to fill out the correct paperwork.

Brompton Dock managing director Mark Antwis said: “We have got to do some live testing on it first, and then it will be a case of training some staff.”