A PRESS RELEASE FROM
WENSLEYDALE RAILWAY plc
www.wensleydalerailway.com
AND
PARRY PEOPLE MOVERS Ltd
www.parrypeoplemovers.com
11th June 2005
JOINT DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED:
PPM TECHNOLOGY FOR WENSLEYDALE RAILWAY - SYNDICATE TO BE FORMED TO FUND CONSTRUCTION OF "COMMUNITY RAILCAR"
The Boards of Wensleydale Railway plc and Parry People Movers Ltd have announced a programme for the joint development of a new style of modern rural railway operation: the "Community Light Railway" based on best environmental practice. The strategy includes the phased introduction of energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly railcars.
PPM's developments of hybrid-power rail vehicles, featuring energy regeneration and storage, fully complement the Wensleydale Railway's plans to reopen the Northallerton-Leeming Bar and eventually the Redmire-Garsdale sections of railway for public services.
Both organisations have achieved notable success in transforming opinions in the provision of public transport:
- The WR already operates passenger services seven days a week with conventional older-style diesel units running the 17 miles between Leeming Bar and Redmire in the picturesque North Yorkshire dales. The planned expansion of operations will form a 40 mile rail link between Northallerton and Garsdale, serving the communities along the route and providing new access opportunities to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
- PPM has introduced new concepts into the public transport market by developing a range of low environmental impact, light rail vehicles that do not require heavy investment in infrastructure or electrification. This makes possible a new generation of local lines that are more affordable, acceptable and attractive than existing options of buses or main line trains. Several PPM railcars and trams have been approved for public service and have carried over 100,000 passengers in comfort and safety since 1995.
The WR's need to ensure minimal environmental impact after extending the railway into the national park has driven the search for clean, quiet options in accordance with the environmental views of many of the Railway's shareholders.
"We have followed PPM's developments closely - their railcars have very low emissions and are astoundingly quiet," said Steve Deane, WR plc's Mechanical Engineering & Compliance Director. "Environmental considerations are particularly sensitive where we want to extend the railway. The Wensleydale Railway is therefore seriously interested in operating the next generation of PPM vehicles."
John Parry, Chairman of PPM, explained the benefits of his company's products: "In environmentally-sensitive areas, minimum impact is essential. You want low noise, low pollution, no obtrusive railway structures - like big stations - and minimal barriers to people's enjoyment of the area. Of course, low cost is important too. PPM's Community Railcars, which will essentially be like trams in modern cities but without the electric wires, provide a solution to all these issues. We're delighted to have reached this agreement with the Wensleydale Railway."
Finance is now being gathered to begin construction of the first railcar for use on the Wensleydale Railway. Among other means of funding, cash will be raised through a syndicate of supporters. Syndicate members' funds will go directly to the Wensleydale Community Railcar project.
Discussions are taking place regarding the possibility of a promotional visit by a PPM 50 Light Railcar to the Wensleydale Railway in the near future.
Anyone interested in receiving details about the Wensleydale Community Railcar Syndicate should contact Parry People Movers Ltd at the address below.
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. Wensleydale Railway plc was founded by the Wesnsleydale Railway Association which has campaigned since 1990 to reopen the former Northallerton-Garsdale railway line. The group's aim is economic development and improvement of the public transport infrastructure in an area where tourism is placing increasing strains on the road network.
3. 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.
4. 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.
CONTACTS FOR PRESS ENQUIRIES
Ruth Annison
Chairman
Wensleydale Railway plc
Leeming Bar Station
Leases Road
Leeming Bar
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL7 9AR
Telephone: 01969 667487
E-mail: ruth.annison@wensleydalerailway.com
Website: www.wensleydalerailway.com
John Parry MBE
Chairman
Parry People Movers Ltd
Overend Road
Cradley Heath
West Midlands
B64 7DD
Telephone: 01384 569553
Fax: 01384 637753
E-mail: info@parrypeoplemovers.com
Website: www.parrypeoplemovers.com |
