Cycle Solutions like other cycle to work scheme providers are now able to increase the limit of £1000 to what ever the employer wants - even in theory unlimited (but this depends on your salary obviously, and there are rules about the minimum that salary sacrifice schemes leave you each month as well). This is because the scheme changed in 2019.
Cycle Solutions Cycle to Work SchemeMy company still had the £1000 limit last year via
Cyclescheme.co.uk.
Although I don't need a bike at the moment I wrote an email to our HR dept explaining that the scheme had changed and the reasons for it.
Bikes more expensive, effect of inflation over the 20yrs the £1000 limit had been in place etc
Electric Bikes - ideal for commuting but can be a lot more than £1000
A £1000 limit is potentially discriminatory to anyone requiring a specially adapted bike.
I also pointed out that there are savings for the employer as well as they don't pay NI on the amount in the Salary Sacrifice scheme - so more expensive bikes for the employee generate greater NI savings for the employer.
It took a couple of months but they now have increased it to £3500 - all they have to do is contact the scheme provider and let them know the limit they want to have, I did suggest it should be unlimited but it's still a big increase on what it was.
I'd suggest trying this approach and see how you get on - I work for a reasonably large company but no where near the size of Network Rail so no idea how responsive your HR dept might be.
It may well be the case that your employer hasn't look at the scheme for years and is not aware of the changes and just needs a prompt.