RAILCAR No. 139 001 DISPLAYED AT TYSELEY 100 OPEN DAY
The first PPM 60 railcar for operation on the Stourbridge Town branch was exhibited in public at London Midland‘s Tyseley depot on Saturday 28th June.  The event marked the 100th anniversary of Tyseley Locomotive Works, and railcar 139 001 took its place amidst an extensive display of steam, diesel and electric rolling stock on both the London Midland depot and the adjacent heritage railway site.

CLASS 139 TAKES SHAPE
The photographs below show progress on the ‘Class 139’ PPM 60 railcars, being supplied to Porterbrook Leasing and London Midland to operate the Stourbridge Town branch.  Bodies are being finished at Trailways Ltd, while the chassis are assembled by Alan Keef Ltd.

PPML IN ‘THE MODERN RAILWAY’
Alongside its technology licensor JPM Parry & Associates Ltd, PPML is listed in ‘The Modern Railway’, the directory of UK rail industry suppliers published in the June issue of Modern Railways magazine.

‘STEAM RAILWAY’ LOOKS INTO LIGHTWEIGHT RAIL
The 9th May issue of Steam Railway magazine features a four-page article exploring the potential of PPML’s products to operate in public transport service over heritage railways.  Written by journalist Tony Streeter, the piece includes commentary from Caspar Lucas, technical services director of PPML’s technology licensors and project managers, JPM Parry & Associates Ltd.  References to PPML in print, on radio and on television are listed on the Media Coverage page.

PPML FEATURED IN GUIDE TO BRITAIN’S RAILWAYS
The eleventh edition of ‘Britain’s Railways’, the comprehensive guide to the rail systems of the British mainland, describes in detail the progress made by PPML in securing the supply of two PPM 60 railcars to operate public services on the Stourbridge Town branch.  Overviews are given in sections devoted to both light rail and London Midland, the franchise under which the Stourbridge Town branch falls.  ‘Britain’s Railways’ is an annual guide from the publishers of RAIL magazine.

EXPLORING PPML’s POTENTIAL FOR HERITAGE RAILWAYS
The May issue of international light rail journal Tramways & Urban Transport features a major article highlighting the potential for lightweight rail technology to bring public transport services back to lines now run as heritage railways.  Co-authored by rail journalist Tony Streeter and Caspar Lucas, technical services director of PPML’s project managers JPM Parry & Associates Ltd, it points out how principles already successfully adopted in Germany point the way to PPM railcars running weekday services on independent railways in the UK.

LIGHTWEIGHT RAIL POTENTIAL FOR RE-OPENINGS EXAMINED
The March 2008 edition of Today's Railways UK includes an 11-page appraisal of the prospects for reinstating rail routes in England.  Prominent in the main article is an assessment of the role of PPM lightweight rail technology for providing attractive passsenger rail services on a variety of railway types, including existing heritage lines, freight-only routes and mothballed railways that are safeguarded but do not currently see any traffic.  An extract from the article can be seen on the Media Comment page.

LIGHTWEIGHT RAIL CAPABILITY ADVERTISED IN RAIL & TRAM PRESS
PPML's project managers JPM Parry & Associates Ltd have promoted the potential offered by lightweight rail technology in the transport press.  Different advertisements in the magazines Tramways & Urban Transit (January and February 2008) and Modern Railways (February 2008) emphasise Parry Associates' expertise in bringing innovative transport solutions to public service.  Both publications have also carried editorial content relating to PPML - see the Media Coverage page

PPM 60 RAILCARS TO BE CLASS 139
The British rail industry has determined that the two PPM 60 vehicles now in manufacture to operate public services on the Stourbridge Town branch will be known as Class 139.  Following standard practice, each railcar will display both a unit number (139 001 and 139 002) and a vehicle number (39001 and 39002).  This system is very different from the single number (999 900) given to the prototype PPM 50 railcar prior to operation on the same route, and ironically places the new vehicles - which will run on a route with a maximum line speed of 20mph - in a similar number series to those of the Class 395 units that will achieve 140mph on domestic services over the new high speed line from St Pancras International.

STOURBRIDGE ORDER ATTRACTS ATTENTION
The announcement of the contract to supply two PPM 60 vehicles for service on the Stourbridge Town branch has started to be widely reported.  As well as featuring on the Press Releases page, the news has been added to the Porterbrook and London Midland websites.  The Media Coverage page lists references to PPML, and rail commentator Christian Wolmar's positive statement in Transport Times are included on the Media Comment page.

PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCES PPM 60 ORDER
PPML has issued a joint press release with Porterbrook Leasing Company Ltd and London Midland to announce the order for two PPM 60 railcars to operate passenger services on the Stourbridge Town branch in the West Midlands.  Contracts were finalised on 5th November 2007 and production work has begun, with PPML's suppliers fully engaged.

LINKS PAGE UPDATED
The Links page has been amended to show new collaborators, including the London Midland franchise, Porterbrook Leasing Company Ltd as well as industrial partners Alan Keef Ltd and Main Road Sheet Metal Ltd.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH ON 'TRAM-TRAIN' PROGRESS AND PPM AT STOURBRIDGE
The Sunday Telegraph newspaper of 11th November includes an article about lightweight 'tram-trains', which the UK Government is considering for application in Britain.  It makes reference to the experimental operation of a PPM 50 railcar on the Stourbridge Town branch in 2005-06 and is quoted on the Media Comment page, while a listing of reports concerning PPML's developments can be seen on the Media Coverage page.

LAUNCH OF LONDON MIDLAND FRANCHISE
Today saw the launch of London Midland, the new rail franchise operating passenger trains between London, Birmingham and Liverpool and on local routes around the West Midland region.  PPML will be providing two PPM 60 railcars to operate all services on the Stourbridge Town branch line from December 2008.

PPM PROJECTS MANAGER COMMENDED AT LIGHT RAIL AWARDS
The first Light Rail Awards, presented in London on 2nd November, included a 'Highly Commended' accolade in the Light Rail Campaigner of the Year category for Caspar Lucas, Technical Standards Director of PPML's project managers JPM Parry & Associates Ltd.

PPM FEATURED ON MIDLANDS POLITICAL TV SHOW
The edition of 'The Lobby', the ITV1 television programme covering politics in the Midlands region, featured PPM technology on 4th October in an item on Margot James, the prospective Conservative candidate for the Stourbridge parliamentary constituency.  Click here to see the web version of the programme (the PPM-related item starts at 5 minutes 48 seconds).

STOURBRIDGE POLITICIANS AGREE ON BENEFITS OF PPM
Labour and Conservative figures in Stourbridge have united in their praise of PPML's lightweight rail concept, and particularly what it can do for the local area.  The town's current Member of Parliament, Labour's Lynda Waltho, has been a long-standing supporter - launching the experimental service in 2006 as recorded in her newsletter.  More recently Margot James, the prospective Conservative candidate, has shown her support after a demonstration of PPM technology at Stourbridge Junction, and recorded her impressions on her website.

LIGHT RAIL JOURNAL HERALDS PPM ROLE IN LIGHT RAIL'S FUTURE
The October 2007 issue of Tramways & Urban Transit, the official journal of the Light Rail Transit Association, includes a major article looking forward to a future where fresh ideas bring about a new expansion programme in UK light rail.  One of the concepts highlighted is Parry People Movers technology, particularly in the light of its selection for full public operation of a rail service in the West Midlands.  The relevant text from the article can be seen on the Media Coverage page.

TASMANIAN PROPOSAL LOOKS AT PPM POTENTIAL
According to reports in the Tasmanian Mercury newspaper, PPML's lightweight rail technology is a contender for passenger services in Hobart, using an existing but unused rail route into the city.  Ever since the inception of the venture, PPML has seen its products as having significant export potential due to their robust basic engineering combined with modern passenger facilities giving the attractiveness of electric light rail.  This reference to PPM technology is listed on the Media Coverage page.

LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT FORUM CONFERENCE TO HEAR ABOUT LIGHTWEIGHT RAIL
"Environmental Benefits & Mode Selection" are the twin subjects of the second annual conference of the Light Rapid Transit Forum, to be held on 18th September 2007 at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.  Parry People Movers lightweight rail technology will be described at this event by Caspar Lucas, Technical Services Director of PPML's project managers JPM Parry & Associates Ltd, who will cover issues including the advantages of the PPM mode, its environmental performance and progress towards the implementation of full public service on the Stourbridge Town branch.  Click here for details of the conference.

ANOTHER PPM YOUTUBE CLIP!
As well as the clip of a model PPM 50 (see Latest News of 23rd July), YouTube also features a short video of the real PPM 50 vehicle No. 999 900 departing Stourbridge Junction during experimental public operation last year.  Click here to see the clip.

BIRMINGHAM POST PROFILES PPML CHAIRMAN
On Saturday 18th August the Birmingham Post's business section devoted a page to a profile of John Parry, chairman and chief executive of Parry People Movers Ltd.  The article focused on the worldwide potential for the lightweight rail concept to improve living conditions and environmental effects of transport, with particular reference to the first full service application of the technology in the paper's own West Midlands region at Stourbridge.

NEW PRESS RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESS PROSPECTS IN LIGHT OF RAIL STRATEGY
PPML is looking to the future with renewed confidence after the UK Government revealed that their future rail strategy echoes the company's long-standing approach to environmental performance.  Press release issued by Golley Slater Financial PR.

NETWORK RAIL'S NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE UNDERLINES COMMITMENT TO LIGHTWEIGHT TRAINS
Quoted in yesterday's Observer newspaper, Iain Coucher - who has recently replaced John Armitt as Chief Executive of Network Rail - confirmed his belief in the need for lighter rolling stock to improve the environmental performance of rail transport.  Echoing comments he made while still Deputy Chief Executive in September 2006, Mr Coucher said that "lighter trains are more energy-efficient as they need less fuel", as well as causing less damage to track.  His statement has been added to the Industry Comment page.

PPML RESPONDS TO RAIL TECHNICAL STRATEGY AND HIGH LEVEL OUTPUT STATEMENT
A press release has been issued in response to the publication yesterday of the UK Department for Transport's White Paper 'Delivering a Sustainable Railway' and the accompanying Rail Technical Strategy and High Level Output Statement for 2009-14.  Officially recognising the approach taken by PPML, the DfT's documents emphasise the need for high-efficiency, lightweight, hybrid technology.

MODEL PPM 50 IN ACTION - SEEN ON YOUTUBE
References to PPM concepts continue to appear widely on the internet, but an unexpected addition was a film clip on YouTube showing a model PPM 50 railcar on a garden model railway.  Click here to view.

IMPROVEMENTS TO INVESTOR INFORMATION
PPML's shares are quoted on the PLUS Market, and a new Investor Information link at the top of every page allows visitors to see the PLUS's PPML page at the click of a mouse button.  A new link to the PLUS home page has also been added on the Links page.

PARRY PEOPLE MOVERS ON BBC TV
Click here to see the television clip filmed by Midlands Today on 25th June 2007 by the BBC's West Midlands transport correspondent Peter Plisner. Windows Media player or Real player required to view clip.

RAIL MINISTER PRESSES CASE FOR INNOVATIVE THINKING
Speaking to the Modern Railways 'Fourth Friday' Club the day after PPM lightweight rail was confirmed for the West Midlands franchise, Rail Minister Tom Harris MP underlined his Department's commitment to new solutions in railway operation.  Five months after he visited Stourbridge and rode on the prototype PPM 50 railcar, his speech to rail industry leaders on 22nd June made specific reference to the use of lightweight tram-train vehicles to meet environmental challenges and provide better transport links.  See the Political & Government Comment page for details.

MEDIA REPORTS WEST MIDLANDS FRANCHISE NEWS
The news that Govia and the Department for Transport have agreed that PPML's railcars will be used to run services on the Stourbridge Town branch under the new London Midland franchise has already been widely reported.  Today's BBC TV Midlands Today programme reports the story, which has even reached the Russian media.  All known references to PPML in the media are summarised on the Media Coverage page.

PPM RAILCARS TO OPERATE STOURBRIDGE TOWN BRANCH UNDER NEW FRANCHISE
The Department for Transport today announced that the new West Midlands franchise has been awarded to Govia.  Govia have stated that one of the key highlights of the franchise will be the introduction of Parry People Movers railcars to operate all services on the short branch line between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH REPORTS DfT & NETWORK RAIL INTEREST IN LIGHTWEIGHTING
Yesterday's Sunday Telegraph featured an article on the growing interest of both Network Rail and the Department for Transport in the concepts of lightweight rolling stock and 'tram-trains', with plans for the forthcoming acquisition of innovative rail vehicles reported.  Having succeeded in bringing a lightweight PPM 50 railcar into public service on the Network Rail branch at Stourbridge, PPML is a contender to supply such vehicles for applications where conventional high-capacity solutions are not appropriate.

LIGHTWEIGHT RAILWAYS FEATURE IN RAIL
The 6th June edition of RAIL magazine includes a special feature on lightweight railways, with analysis of the contribution that PPML can make to the aims of attractive, energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly transport.  Mark Forster's article identifies the scope for PPML's products within a range of lightweight trains, from the 125mph InterCity Express on the main lines to PPM railcars on feeder branch lines.  It also quotes from Andrew McNaughton, Chief Engineer of Network Rail, on the benefits of minimising rail vehicle weight and the tram-train concept.  Excerpts can be seen on both the Media Comment and Industry Comment pages.

SUPPLY CHAIN COLLABORATORS ADDED TO LINKS
The five industrial companies collaborating with PPML in the design of the new PPM 60 vehicle type have been included on the Links page.  Clayton Equipment Ltd, East Lancashire Coachbuilders, Power Torque Engineering, Linde Hydraulics and Brecknell Willis Composites are currently providing design services in a project part-funded by Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands and will supply subsystem modules for new-build railcars and trams.

'GROWING INTEREST' INFORMATION SHEET PUBLISHED
A new information sheet has been added to the Publications & Presentations page.  Demonstrating the growing interest in lightweight rail concepts, the sheet features the visits of both Rail Minister Tom Harris MP and the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP.

THE ECONOMIST - 'CLEAR SOLUTION IS GOOD PUBLIC TRANSPORT'
The Economist magazine of 5th May includes a special report on cities that underlines the importance of reliable and attractive public transport, especially in improving conditions in the developing world.  Two articles in the report are directly relevant to PPML's proposals for the deployment of lightweight rail in such locations, where efficiency and ease of upkeep in a demanding environment are crucial.  Excerpts can be read on the Media Comment page.

PROSPECTS FOR RAILWAY RE-OPENINGS BOOSTED
PPML has issued a new press release describing how recent developments in the private sector, as well as announcements from Transport 2000 and the Conservative Party, are building momentum behind the potential for re-opening former rail lines.  Many proposed new links are ideally suited to the company's lightweight rail development.

24th April 2007

INDUSTRY SUPPORT GRANT TO FUND PPM 60 DEVELOPMENT
PPML has signed a contract with the Rail Programme of Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands to undertake design work on the PPM 60 four-wheel railcar type.  The project will involve collaborative working with supply chain companies over a three-month period.

RAILWAY MODELLER FEATURES CONSTRUCTION OF MINIATURE PPM 50
The March edition of Railway Modeller magazine included a feature article by Peter Lloyd, winner of last year's competition to construct a model of the PPM 50 'Stourbridge' railcar.  In detail (and with good humour), Peter recounts the trials of building his excellent 'O' gauge version of the lightweight vehicle, including the production of moulded plastic components for complicated curved shapes.

REPORT ON DfT's COMMUNITY RAIL REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS PPML ACHIEVEMENT
The Rapid Transit section of the 13th April edition of Bus & Coach Professional reports on the significance of the experimental operation of a PPM 50 railcar in the Department for Transport's Review of Community Rail Development Strategy.  See Media Comment page for full details.  Known media reports on PPML are listed on the Media Coverage page.

DfT COMMUNITY RAIL REVIEW ENDORSES "LIGHTWEIGHTING"
A new press release has been issued in response to the publication on 30th March of the Department for Transport's review of the community rail development strategy, which provides extensive evidence of the desirability of lightweight rail technology.  PPML responds to the review's suggestion that its vehicles are too small to provide useful services with reference to endorsements for the Stourbridge operation, to opportunities for reinstatement of passenger services on various transport corridors, and to the ongoing development work on larger vehicle types.

STOURBRIDGE MP REPORTS ON LIGHTWEIGHT RAIL IN ANNUAL REVIEW
In her report to constituents for 2006-07, Stourbridge Member of Parliament Lynda Waltho records her role in inviting the rail minister, Tom Harris MP, to see PPML's technology on 22nd January.  "I have long been a champion of the PPM and I think the Minister was really impressed with what he saw.  Light rail links such as this one enable local transport solutions to be attractive, environmentally-friendly and affordable," writes Mrs Waltho.  See the Political & Government Comment page for her full write-up.