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DfT REVIEW OF COMMUNITY RAIL STRATEGY ENDORSES "LIGHTWEIGHTING" Parry People Movers Ltd preparing to supply the larger, faster railcars needed for tomorrow's local rail services, but smaller vehicles have a valuable niche The Department for Transport's Review of Community Rail Development Strategy, published on 30th March, strongly endorses the principle of improving local rail services by the application of "lightweight rail" technology. This concept has been pioneered by West Midlands-based Parry People Movers Ltd (PPML), whose 50-passenger railcar was successfully run in experimental public service during 2005-06 by Pre Metro Operations Ltd. This achievement is marked by the Department's review, which notes "the use of a lightweight vehicle on the Stourbridge Town branch for Sunday services has shown that the vehicle can run reliably and there may be scope for all-week operation". The review comments on the relatively small size and low speed of the railcar used at Stourbridge, which was designed to be suitable for this specific operation on a short shuttle service where maximum line speed is 20mph. Having proved the success of the concept in this application - with reliability and punctuality of 99% over more than 4,000 journeys in passenger service - PPML is developing larger, faster railcars for the wider market. Proposals for weekday operation of the Stourbridge Town branch by PPML's railcars - endorsed by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority - include a larger 60-passenger vehicle type and more frequent services to boost line capacity. PPML is also working on designs for railcars to carry at least 80 passengers each, and capable of being coupled together to handle peak loads. However, many scenarios exist where a frequent small rail vehicles would provide an attractive service, particularly on re-instated branch lines (including passenger services on "heritage" railways) and small town tramways where the same base technology can be used. The DfT's document confirms the desirability of lightweight rolling stock and lists the associated benefits, which include reductions in infrastructure costs, signalling costs, fuel use and running times. Environmental factors are also relevant - the experimental operation at Stourbridge showed much quieter operation and a calculated reduction of 80% in carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional "heavy rail". Passengers considered the self-powered PPM 50 railcar to be equivalent to modern electric trams - the mode of transport most successful in reducing car use in favour of public transport. Lighter rail technology is described as "a promising option" by rail minister Tom Harris MP, who experienced PPML's technology for himself during a visit to Stourbridge on 22nd January 2007. The review also describes the role of Network Rail, the national infrastructure owner, in developing lightweight solutions for community rail and in amending industry standards that currently address "heavy rail" only. Network Rail has shown particular interest in PPML's concepts and commissioned an in-depth report on the results of the experimental operation at Stourbridge, which included applying the lessons learned to longer, faster services and a review of the larger vehicle designs that are on the drawing board. "The DfT's review is a welcome endorsement of concepts we have developed, such as lightweighting and the role of local rail transport in communities' social and economic life," said John Parry, chairman of PPML. "We would be disappointed, however, if there were a failure of imagination regarding small railcars. To reduce the environmental impact of transport, we have to look at re-expanding rail transport on to corridors that don't have trains today. Many of these branches will need small vehicles, which will then feed passengers on to bigger main line trains. Our technology, which passengers tell us provides the travel experience they want, is the economical solution for attractive public transport in areas with smaller passenger numbers." Further comments on Review of Community Rail Development Strategy: - Paragraph 2.55 suggests that magnetic track brakes are required to give the braking performance required for signal-less, "line-of-sight" operation. PPML vehicles have simpler pneumatic emergency brakes with performance sufficient to enable line-of-sight operation. - Paragraph 2.59 suggests that smaller PPML railcars will be applicable in exceptional circumstances only. PPML believes that smaller vehicles are needed for re-instatement of passenger services and for lightweight tramways in smaller cities and towns, while its development of larger railcars will give wider market applicability. - Paragraph 3.6 identifies that an issue with re-opening the line from Bere Alston to Tavistock would be the provision of economically-sound services to both Tavistock and Gunnislake. One option would be a lightweight rail shuttle between Gunnislake and Bere Alston, with convenient connections into a direct Tavistock-Pymouth service. - Paragraph 3.21 identifies the stated aim of the Department for Transport to reduce the ongoing cost of community rail services. PPML and Pre Metro Operations Ltd have calculated that lightweight rail operation of the Stourbridge Town branch would achieve variable cost savings of 45% compared to the existing "heavy rail" service. - Annex 1 identifies that independent railways may apply to have routes designated as community rail. Parry People Movers vehicles are suitable for operation over the infrastructure of independent/heritage railways to provide new connections for local residents and businesses. - Annex 1 also states that "the age of most of the rolling stock currently used on community rail services means that it is unlikely that the units will be made fully compliant with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR) during their remaining lifetime". Parry People Movers vehicles are designed to be fully compliant with RVAR requirements and in some cases exceed them, for example with completely level access from the platform into the railcar. - Annex 2 identifies that the Stourbridge Town branch is currently proposed for community rail designation. Adoption of PPML lightweight rail technology on this line is not dependent on designation as a community rail line, and has already been forcibly advocated by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority as the appropriate mode for a short suburban feeder line. ends NOTES FOR EDITORS: Parry People Movers Ltd information ADVANTAGES: PPML's 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. PPML's vehicles are fully compliant with accessibility regulations. ACHIEVEMENTS: Twelve PPML vehicles have been built, ranging in capacity from 2 to 50 passengers. Between them they have carried over 100,000 passengers. Previous 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. From 11th December 2005 to 17th December 2006, the railcar operated 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 PPML's 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 PPML vehicles can be obtained from Parry People Movers Ltd (contact details below). FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact - ends
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