Friday December 1st 2006 – Press Release from
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RAILWAY SUCCESS STORY AS 10,000 PASSENGER JOURNEYS ACHIEVED IN SERVICE BY LIGHTWEIGHT RAILCAR OPERATION
Stourbridge Leads the Way
Centro now urges West Midlands franchise bidders to adopt the Parry People Mover solution for local lines
Rail passenger services on the Stourbridge branch line using British lightweight, environmentally-friendly technology have successfully demonstrated that local rail services can be operated more affordably and with less environmental impact. Since the service commenced in December 2005 over 10,000 passenger trips have been recorded and the operating company has received overwhelming positive support from the travelling public.
Pre Metro Operations Ltd (a licensed train operator [TOC]) has now run successfully the Sunday service between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town stations in the West Midlands for 12 months. The TOC has used a lightweight railcar from Parry People Movers Ltd which has proved to be not only passenger friendly but also extremely reliable on the steep gradient between the two stations.
Whilst Centro support for the passenger service ceases on the 3rd December the company will continue to provide a service until 17th December in order to provide the convenient rail link in the run up to Christmas. The company is also seeking sponsorship to enable Stourbridge residents to benefit from the service during 2007.
Punctuality and reliability have been maintained at around 99% that means that the service is one of the top three performers in the Country. Operational statistics also show that the vehicle accounts for just one-fifth of the diesel train's emissions of carbon dioxide - the principal greenhouse gas - while providing the same level of service to passengers. As a result, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority wants this approach to be used for all services on the branch line.
"The trial we have helped fund has shown how this new, locally-developed technology is able to provide a frequent, safe and reliable passenger service," said Centro-WMPTA's lead member for rail, Cllr Keith Chambers. "When the new rail franchise takes over from Central Trains, we think there is real scope for the heavy rail to be replaced by a more frequent seven-day shuttle service using lightweight railcars. We are urging the companies now bidding for the West Midlands franchise to make this a part of their plans."
"It's a way of providing public transport that people will want to use," said John Parry, the Chairman of Pre Metro Operations Ltd. "It's quiet and clean, like modern trams and light rail, but it doesn't need electric wires and won't cost hundreds of millions of pounds to install. So smaller cities and medium-sized towns, as well as rural branch lines, can benefit from attractive transport systems."
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NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Pre Metro Operations Ltd [PMOL] information
1. COMPANY: PMOL bridges the gap between traditional railways, light rail/tramways and bus operation. The PMOL 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 authority from Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate and Network Rail to operate passenger services 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 19.55). 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; valid rail tickets and travel passes are accepted.
4. PMOL Sunday services were officially launched at a ceremony on 5th February 2006 with Stourbridge MP, Lynda Waltho officiating.
5. The PMOL operation gave the Stourbridge Town branch its first regular Sunday service since 1915.
Parry People Movers Ltd [PPML] information
COMPANY: PPML was founded in 1992 to develop rail transport based on a new innovation: the "Kinergetic" flywheel energy store, which allows vehicles to run extremely efficiently and to recapture their braking energy for reuse when accelerating. The company is owned by approximately 200 shareholders and is quoted on the OFEX market.
ADVANTAGES: PPM rail vehicles offer the quality of modern light rail transport without the need for electrical power supply, giving excellent environmental performance and energy efficiency at lower cost than conventional technology. The same technology can be used on railways or urban tramways. PPM vehicles are fully compliant with accessibility regulations.
ACHIEVEMENTS: Twelve PPM vehicles have been built, ranging in capacity from 2 to 50 passengers. Between them they have carried over 100,000 passengers. Previous PPM vehicles have operated in Bristol, Brighton, Barking, Swansea, Birmingham, Oswestry and elsewhere. PPM 50 Light Railcar No. 999 900 has run on the Chasewater Railway, the Great Central Railway, the Severn Valley Railway and the Wensleydale Railway since it was built in 2001. Since December 2005, the railcar has been in passenger service between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town stations on Sundays, run by licensed train operator Pre Metro Operations Ltd.
TECHNOLOGY: The "Kinergetic" technology used in PPM vehicles is licensed to the company by JPM Parry & Associates Ltd, a West Midlands engineering company specialising in overseas development, integrated transport, and energy/environmental issues.
PHOTOGRAPHS: A wide range of pictures of PPM vehicles can be obtained from the company (contact details below).
FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact -
John Parry MBE, Chairman, Pre Metro Operations Ltd & Parry People Movers Ltd
Overend Road, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, B64 7DD
Telephone: +44 (0)1384 569553
Fax: +44 (0)1384 637753
Email: info@parrypeoplemovers.com and
E-mail: premetro@aol.com
Website: www.parrypeoplemovers.com
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