TRANSPORT COMMITTEE SUPPORTS 'COMMUNITY LIGHT RAIL'
Parry People Movers Ltd's concept for rejuvenating Britain's local railways using the methods and technologies of light rail transport has been endorsed by the report on Rural Railways from the House of Commons Select Committee on Transport.
In its Fifth Report, published on 15th March, the Committee concludes that "innovative thinking about the rolling stock market is urgently needed". It recommends that new trains for Community Railways could build "on light rail technology".
PPM has introduced the concept of Community Light Rail to bring the advantages of tram-type operation to local railways. This includes the replacement of heavy trains by lighter vehicles with more frequent services and stops, and makes it possible to provide extensions into towns along street tramways. Crucially, PPM's innovations mean that no electrification is necessary to provide a quiet, high-quality, modern transport system. Community Light Rail makes local and rural railways less expensive to run and more attractive to passengers.
The report also refers to the standards that govern the design and maintenance of Community Railways. "We support the development of standards that are more appropriate for rural lines," states the Committee, adding that adapting maintenance to match local conditions "may include revision of Network Rail's own standards."
These recommendations emphasise the need to apply new thinking to the provision of rail services on little-used lines. Together with Pre Metro Operations Ltd - and supported by Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive) and the Strategic Rail Authority - PPM is preparing for a trial of its light railcar on the Stourbridge Town branch of the Network Rail system.
"This is very welcome news," said Caspar Lucas, Projects Manager of PPM. "It shows that the Transport Committee recognises the real differences that exist between local lines and high-speed, heavily-used main line railways - and that it wants to ensure that the right solution is applied in each case. We can only agree with that."
As part of a separate inquiry, PPM's associate companies JPM Parry & Associates Ltd and Holdfast Carpet Track Ltd appeared before the Transport Committee on 14th March 2005 to give evidence on the difficulties in delivering innovation in the light rail sector. The Committee's acknowledgement that light rail techniques have a role to play in the future of local railways shows that similar solutions can be used to develop and improve both urban and rural rail transport.
