Monday January 30 2006 – Second Joint Press Release from
"GREEN" RAIL SERVICE CELEBRATES 1,000th PASSENGER JOURNEY
Milestone reached on sixth day of Parry People Movers operation - local youngster's first rail trip brings special gift to mark achievement
History was made on the 10.00 departure from Stourbridge Junction on Sunday January 29 when three-year old Sam Read's trip on a revolutionary environment-friendly railcar became the thousandth passenger journey carried by innovative rail operator Pre Metro Operations Ltd (PMOL).
Sam and his mum Jodi only got their lucky break after missing the main line train to Birmingham. Instead of waiting on the platform at Stourbridge Junction, they took the short trip on the Parry People Movers (PPM) railcar to the Town station and back. But when they got on board, operating staff realised that the milestone had just been hit. Parry People Movers chairman John Parry was on hand to present Sam with a box of chocolates - and they were generously shared amongst other passengers and crew on the railcar!
It was the first trip on the national rail network that Sam, from Oldswinford near Stourbridge Junction station, had ever made. The PPM 50 light railcar was an excellent introduction to rail travel, with large windows giving an all-round view. Many youngsters (and their parents) have already enjoyed the new experience of riding on the modern, green kind of transport.
Licensed train operator PMOL has run passenger services using the PPM 50 light railcar on Sundays since 11th December 2005, with support provided by Centro and the former Strategic Rail Authority. The number of passengers travelling has risen steadily as more and more people become aware of the new service, which connects with Central Trains services to Birmingham, Worcester and beyond at Stourbridge Junction.
"It's great that passengers have already made a thousand trips," said John Parry. "And on the sixth day of operation, that's good going! As the weather improves we reckon the passenger numbers will grow and grow, and we're looking forward to giving out more prizes when we hit two thousand and so on. The railcar has already established itself as a special feature for Stourbridge, and riding on it is completely different from taking a trip on any other kind of train."
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. Pre Metro Operations Ltd 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. Tickets, including a PMOL Day ticket priced at £2 giving unlimited travel between the two stations for a day, can be purchased from on-board staff. Standard rail fares apply and valid rail tickets and travel passes are accepted.
2. 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..
3. Limited public services ran on and December 11 and 18, 2005. Full-day services were introduced on January 8 2006.
4. The PMOL operation gives the Stourbridge Town branch its first regular Sunday service since 1915.
Parry People Movers Ltd information
COMPANY: Parry People Movers Ltd (PPM) 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.
RAILCAR HISTORY: PPM 50 Light Railcar No. 999 900 has also run on the Chasewater Railway, the Great Central Railway, the Severn Valley Railway and the Wensleydale Railway since it was built in 2001. Proving runs were undertaken on the Stourbridge Town branch in 2002.
TECHNOLOGY: The "Kinergetic" 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.
PHOTOGRAPHS: A wide range of pictures of PPM vehicles can be obtained from Parry People Movers Ltd (contact details below).
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
Pre Metro Operations Ltd information
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.
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 the new passenger service on the Stourbridge Town branch.
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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