With car-sharing, multi-storey car parks at stations and even bicycle hire added to its portfolio under Mr Mehdorn, Deutsche Bahn is sending the message that rail is only one part, albeit the core, of the services it provides.

ECONOMIST: Face value

An urban bicycle-hire scheme will soon be coming to Northampton and it will have docking stations across the town.

BBC: Boris Bikes scheme for Northampton

London Mayor Boris Johnson is to give tandem bicycle based on the city's bike hire scheme as a wedding present to Prince William and Kate Middleton.

BBC: Royal wedding: London's tandem gift for newlyweds