A PRESS RELEASE FROM PARRY PEOPLE MOVERS LTD
16th May 2005
SUCCESS FOR PPM ON COMMUNITY RAIL DAY:
FIVE HUNDRED JOURNEYS MADE ON LIGHT RAILCAR AT CHASEWATER
Parry People Movers Ltd, the West Midlands company which has developed a new form of light rail transport, celebrated Community Rail Day on Saturday 14 th May with a hugely successful open day in collaboration with the Chasewater Railway, offering four-mile round trips in a rural rail situation.
Visitors made 503 passenger journeys on the PPM Light Railcar between Brownhills West, Lakeside and Chasewater Heaths stations. Some had travelled from across the country for the opportunity to experience Community Light Rail, where tram-like techniques are used to make local and rural lines both more attractive to users and more affordable by reducing subsidy requirements. Crucially, PPM technology means that a quiet, modern, high-quality transport system can be provided without the expense and complexity of electrification.
Passenger comments made on the day highlighted the public's enthusiasm for the concept, with many supporting the use of Community Light Rail to re-open the local link from Brownhills to Walsall, which was closed in the 1960s before the true value of the line was recognised. The environmental benefits were greatly appreciated, with the hybrid power railcar's low noise and low emissions attracting much attention.
Other comments focused on the role that new, affordable light rail technology has to play in reducing road congestion. The high costs of rural railways and urban tramways have received much attention recently and PPM technology - which can be adapted to suit both modes - can be implemented at much lower cost than existing solutions.
PPM's Projects Manager Caspar Lucas was on hand to give out information and answer passengers' questions during the open day. "It's been a fantastic event," he said. "It's obvious from people's feedback that they are very keen to use public transport provided it is comfortable, clean and quick. Trains and trams attract people from their cars and we supply the means to do it."
Company chairman John Parry agreed: "This just proves that PPM railcars are ready to go into service. Five hundred passenger journeys on a four-mile round trip in just a few hours - that's serious public transport."
Community Rail Day, which saw nationwide events marking the contribution that local railways make to the areas they serve, was co-ordinated by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships.
NOTES
1. Parry People Movers Ltd (PPM) was founded in 1992 to develop rail transport based on a new innovation: the flywheel energy store. The company is owned by approximately 200 shareholders and is quoted on the OFEX market.
2. 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.
3. The vehicle technology used in PPM vehicles is licensed to the company by JPM Parry & Associates Ltd (www.parryassociates.com), a West Midlands engineering company specialising in overseas development, integrated transport, and energy/environmental issues.
4. Pre Metro Operations Ltd, a company associated with PPM, is developing innovative operational methods for the provision of public transport by different modes. Pre Metro Operations Ltd is a licensed train operating company and is currently training staff to operate the Stourbridge service.
5. The Chasewater Railway (www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk) is an independent heritage railway which operates steam and diesel train services on a former mineral railway, now within the boundaries of the Chasewater Country Park.
6. The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (www.acorp.uk.com) is a national federation of more than fifty local community rail partnerships spread across the UK. It provides advice and support on developing good quality innovative services on local and rural railways.
For further information, please contact:
John Parry MBE
CHAIRMAN
Parry People Movers Ltd
Overend Road
Cradley Heath
West Midlands
B64 7DD
UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1384 569553
Fax: +44 (0)1384 637753
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