Monday 5th September 2005 – First Joint Press Release From
DEMONSTRATION OF RAIL TRANSPORT INNOVATION -
PRESS LAUNCH: Monday 12 September 2005 in North Yorkshire.
Two companies, Parry People Movers (PPM) and Wensleydale Railway (WR), are collaborating to showcase the potential of a new way forward for public transport in the UK and abroad.
For the first time in half a century, and for a limited period during September, rail passengers will be able to travel between the county town of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, and Wensleydale Railway’s operating base at Leeming Bar station. North Yorkshire County Council is supporting the demonstration by sponsoring a bus link from the railway into the heart of the county town of Northallerton.
The six-mile addition to WR’s current 17 mile daily services between Leeming Bar and Redmire will provide a taster of the future outcome of a recently-announced collaboration between PPM and WR. The two companies, which both have a reputation for transport innovation, are working together on the development of a new generation of railcars. These efficient, quiet and environmentally-friendly vehicles will be suitable for use on Community Railways throughout Britain and abroad, as well as in Wensleydale.
Press launch - Monday September 12: In order to demonstrate this potential, a PPM light railcar with accommodation for 50 passengers has been brought to North Yorkshire and WR staff have been trained in its operation and maintenance. The service will be demonstrated to the press on Monday, September 12 (see Notes for Editors below for details) followed by a public service planned to operate until Friday, September 23.
“The Wensleydale Railway is the perfect place to demonstrate PPM technology,” said John Parry, chairman of Parry People Movers Ltd. “The environmental performance of the railcars means they can be used not only on the existing Wensleydale tracks but also in urban areas and the Yorkshire Dales – without being noisy, smoky or obstructive. They are also passenger-friendly, with large windows and easy access for prams, wheelchairs and passengers with luggage.”
“We are delighted to host this demonstration of the PPM railcar,” says Mrs. Ruth Annison, chairman of Wensleydale Railway plc. “It gives us an opportunity to highlight the importance of restoring passenger services between the county town of Northallerton and WR’s operating base at Leeming Bar. We will also be able to show the benefit of connecting onwards with WR’s trains to and from Bedale, Finghall, Leyburn and Redmire, with easy access for walkers into the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
“Since re-opening the railway in 2003, we have proved the economic benefit that rail passengers bring to small businesses in villages and market towns along its route, as walkers and other visitors to the countryside eat, shop and stay in the area. A rail connection in the other direction - to and from Northallerton - will benefit local commuters, shoppers, hospital visitors and many others, as well as achieving the important goal of a link with the East Coast main line.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
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Company information and contacts are as follows:
Parry People Movers Ltd, John Parry MBE, Chairman,
Overend Road, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, B64 7DD
Telephone: +44 (0)1384 569553 Fax: +44 (0)1384 637753
Email: info@parrypeoplemovers.com
Website: www.parrypeoplemovers.com
Wensleydale Railway plc, Mrs Ruth Annison, Chairman,
Leeming Bar Station, Leases Road, Leeming Bar, Northallerton,
North Yorkshire. DL7 9AR.
Telephone: 01677 425805. Fax: 01677 427029
Email: admin@wensleydalerailway.com
Website: www.wensleydalerailway.com
Ruth Annison office: 01969 667487; home: 01969 650349;
home answerphone: 01969 650187
Email: ruth@annison3.freeserve.co.uk |
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The press event for the new service on Monday September 12 will be based at Leeming Bar station and offer a choice of morning or afternoon sessions (11am or 3pm). There will be a joint PPM/WR briefing and opportunity to ride on the PPM railcar. Technical interviews with representatives from Parry People Movers Ltd and photo-opportunities will be offered as appropriate. |
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TO ATTEND THE EVENT ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12, please email name(s) to admin@wensleydalerailway.com stating whether the morning or afternoon session is preferred.
An update and event details, including car parking and bus/taxi connections with the East Coast main line at Northallerton, will be provided to respondents by email on Thursday September 8. Leeming Bar station is approximately half a mile from the A1 at its junction with the A684 to Bedale and Northallerton. (NB: Leeming Bar, Leeming Village and RAF Leeming are different places). |
Parry People Movers Ltd information
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COMPANY: Parry People Movers Ltd (PPM) was founded in 1992 to develop rail transport based on a new innovation: the 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.
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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.
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ACHIEVEMENTS: Twelve PPM vehicles have been built, ranging in capacity from 2 to 50 passengers. Between them they have carried over 100,000 passengers in complete safety. Previous PPM vehicles have operated in Bristol, Brighton, Barking, Swansea and Birmingham and elsewhere.
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RAILCAR DETAILS: The PPM 50 Light Railcar, which is numbered 999 900, was transported to the Wensleydale Railway on 25th August from the Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire. The vehicle has also visited the Great Central Railway, the Severn Valley Railway and the Stourbridge Town branch of the national network since it was built in 2001.
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NEXT STEPS: After running in Wensleydale, the railcar will return to the West Midlands for passenger service on the Stourbridge Town branch, where it will be operated by Pre Metro Operations Ltd. This operation is supported by Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive) and the Department for Transport, which has taken over responsibility for the Strategic Rail Authority's Community Rail programme.
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TECHNOLOGY: 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.
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PHOTOGRAPHS: A wide range of pictures of PPM vehicles can be obtained from Parry People Movers Ltd (contact details below).
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FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact -
John Parry MBE, Chairman, 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
Website: www.parrypeoplemovers.com
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Wensleydale Railway plc information
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HISTORY: The 40 mile Wensleydale railway was built in stages during the 19th century and connected two main lines: the East Coast main line at Northallerton with the Settle-Carlisle line at Garsdale. It closed to passenger services in stages during the 20th century (1950s-60s) and is re-opening in stages in the 21st century.
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THE TRACK: When passenger services ended, 18 miles of track between Redmire and Garsdale were torn up and the land was sold to adjacent landowners. The remaining 22 miles of track remained in place between Northallerton and Redmire, carrying freight traffic (stone from Redmire quarry to the British Steel plant at Redcar) until December 18 1992.
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In 1989, reprieve of the Settle-Carlisle railway from a longstanding closure proposal provided the trigger for formation of the voluntary Wensleydale Railway Association (WRA) the following year (1990). The WRA’s aim was to bring back passenger services to the surviving 22 mile track and then to campaign for the reconstruction of the 18 mile ‘missing link’, thus restoring the full 40 mile route of the original Wensleydale railway. The main purpose was for the railway to support economic regeneration of this rural dale in an environmentally-friendly way (reasoning that had been accepted when the Settle-Carlisle line was reprieved the previous year).
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In 1995, privatisation of British Rail led the WRA to take a more active part than originally planned in ensuring the return of rail services to Wensleydale as it became “do-it yourself or do without”.
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In 2000, the WRA formed a company, Wensleydale Railway plc, which launched a share offer to raise funds for development and operation of the line; more than £1.2 million was raised.
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In 2003, the Company took a 99 year lease from Network Rail for the 22 mile track between Northallerton and Redmire and re-opened two stations. Passenger services using DMU (diesel multiple unit) trains began on July 4, 2003 between Leeming Bar and Leyburn (12 miles).
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In 2004, train services were extended by nearly five miles to Redmire and three more stations were re-opened: Bedale, Finghall and Redmire. A second share offer was launched and a Prospectus is available from the Company.
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In 2005, substantial infrastructure works allowed the raising of speed limits (now 25mph for DMU trains and 15mph for freight) and the controlled introduction of some loco-hauled diesel services (Class 31/31166 and Class 37/37003 and 37198) during August. The current daily timetable offers four return services each day to ‘clockface’ timings, namely Leeming Bar depart 10.35, 12.35, 14.35 and 16.35 and Redmire depart 11.35, 13.35. 15.35 and 17.35. (This timetable is valid until 30.10.05). Forthcoming special events are the Day Out With Thomas week-end (October 29/30) and Santa Specials (November and December).
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WRA members continue to provide substantial and varied practical support in many departments, especially promoting train services and also by providing trained volunteers who work alongside the small team of paid staff as train crew, in customer services (catering and retailing); also for track patrols, rolling stock and infrastructure work. In June 2005, the 3500 member WRA launched an appeal for ‘Financial Angels’ to support the railway and £80,000 of the appeal target of £100,000 has already been raised.
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NEXT STEPS: Track is in place between Northallerton and Leeming Bar. However the facility has not survived at Northallerton for passengers to board and alight from Wensleydale Railway trains; this has prevented WR from operating services on this section of track. The collaboration with Parry People Movers, together with demonstration of the PPM railcar to the public during September 2005, offers the chance to highlight the urgency of the situation - and the potential for its solution.
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FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact -
Mrs Ruth Annison, Chairman, Wensleydale Railway plc,
Leeming Bar Station, Leases Road, Leeming Bar, Northallerton,
North Yorkshire. DL7 9AR.
Telephone: 01677 425805. Fax: 01677 427029
Email: admin@wensleydalerailway.com
Website: www.wensleydalerailway.com
Ruth Annison office: 01969 667487; home: 01969 650349;
home answerphone: 01969 650187
Email: ruth@annison3.freeserve.co.uk
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