Thursday March 30 2006 – Press Release from
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LIGHTWEIGHT RAIL PIONEER BIDS TO LINK OSWESTRY TO MAIN LINE NETWORK
Pre Metro Operations Ltd delivers Expression of Interest to Shropshire County Council
The licensed train operating company [TOC] which runs passenger services in the West Midlands using revolutionary clean, green and efficient railcar technology has formally expressed its interest in operating between Gobowen and Oswestry in Shropshire.
In February 2006, Shropshire County Council invited expressions of interest for potential operators of rail services on the former Cambrian Railways line between Gobowen and Blodwell, which the council intends to purchase from Network Rail. The line, which remains intact, has not been used by trains for many years, leaving the town of Oswestry cut off from the national rail network.
Pre Metro Operations Ltd (PMOL) has responded to this invitation with a proposal to operate lightweight PPM railcars over a six-mile route between Gobowen and Weston via Oswestry, with eight stations including stops at the main orthopaedic hospital, Town Centre, college and Oswestry Industrial Estate. Services would run Monday-Friday every half-hour in both directions and the journey from central Oswestry to Gobowen station taking just ten minutes. The track could then be used for "heritage" steam trains at weekends.
In the Midlands, PMOL already has a track access agreement to operate over Network Rail tracks and would wish to operate into the existing bay platform at Gobowen station. PMOL currently runs Sunday services between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town using an environmentally friendly light railcar from Parry People Movers Ltd (PPM). The service - supported by Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive) and the former Strategic Rail Authority's community rail programme - operates on a branch of the national Network Rail system on which Central Trains also runs standard-type diesel trains on other days. This branch links the town centre to the main rail line which serves the junction station. Over 3,000 passenger journeys have been made on the PMOL service since it started in December 2005 and the operation has quickly been accepted as part of the local transport scene.
"Linking Oswestry to the national rail system will give the town a significant boost," said Phil Evans, Chief Executive of PMOL. "Good transport links are vital - but the railway that runs straight through Oswestry has no trains. What we've done at Stourbridge shows that 'lightweight' rail technology is the way ahead for these relatively short but very important connections, and we're seeing where else the concept can be applied. This line in Shropshire is an obvious opportunity to give people a high-quality public transport link."
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. COMPANY: Pre Metro Operations Ltd bridges the gap between traditional railways, light rail/tramways and bus operation. PMOL's team is qualified to provide integrated transport services and innovative approaches to rail transport, including the use of new technologies such as the vehicles supplied by Parry People Movers Ltd.
2. ACHIEVEMENTS: PMOL is a licensed train operator and the first in the UK to run non-electrified lightweight rolling stock on the Network Rail system. It has obtained approvals for its safety case from Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate and Network Rail to operate the new passenger service on the Stourbridge Town branch.
3. PMOL operates a full day service on Sundays between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town stations (first service departs Stourbridge Junction at 09.36, last service departs Stourbridge Town at 19.58). There are four departures per hour in each direction from 10.20, with a reduced-frequency service at the beginning of the day. Standard rail fares of 80p for adults and 40p for children apply, and a PMOL Day ticket gives unlimited travel between the two stations for a day for £2. Tickets can be purchased from on-board staff; all valid rail tickets and travel passes are accepted.
4. The passenger operation on the Stourbridge Town branch is supported by Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive) and the Strategic Rail Authority's Community Rail programme (now administered by the Department for Transport).
5. Limited public services ran on December 11 and 18, 2005. Full-day services were introduced on January 8 2006.
6. PMOL Sunday services were officially launched at a ceremony on 5th February 2006 with Centro's Director General Rob Donald and Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho officiating.
7. The PMOL operation gives the Stourbridge Town branch its first regular Sunday service since 1915.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact -
Mr Phil Evans, Chief Executive, Pre Metro Operations Ltd,
21 Woodglade Croft, King's Norton, Birmingham, B38 8TD
Telephone/Fax: +44 (0)121 243 9906.
E-mail: premetro@aol.com
Website: www.premetro.co.uk
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