Parry People Movers - Latest News

24th May 2013

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 65 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including:

Unprecedented increase in demand for local rail services in Britain: p.1
Short (not yet over) history of the railbus: p.4&5
Kwazulu Premier's delegation visits Cradley Heath: p.6
Factory building collapses in Bangladesh show measures are well overdue to introduce lightweighting methods to concrete structures in poorer developing countries.
Parry Associates believe they have a good solution: p.8
Lady entrepreneur makes progress with her new plant in Cameroon: p.6
Need to devise an affordable method of covering water stored from rainfall so as to stop it evaporating away. Again a good solution is on the way: p.8
Stability in Somalia leads to a cluster of new building materials producers using Parry equipment : p.6

21st February 2013

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 64 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including:

Going Tough, But the Tough Keep Going
Key points Regarding the Parry Proposition
Why a more affordable system of urban rail is needed
A credible, well balanced team but with a gap still to be filled
Why the flywheel / hydrostatic hybrid is a winning concept
New products, modern social media and the ‘Diaspora’ approach bring a resurgence of construction sector activity
Congestion-busting innovation for freeing up urban traffic

14th February 2013

Stourbridge- Great Railway Journeys

The attractiveness of the Railway Journeys theme is using an historic guide to Britain - Bradshaw - which traced the train routes of the past but pointed out important, pleasant, interesting and sometimes just quirky things which one might encounter along the way.

Boundless Productions have linked past and present, discovering how heritage organisations and sometimes firms have keep alive what existed in Bradshaw's time.

The producers filmed each locality conducting interviews with the people still running facilities which date back to earlier times. What originally drew the programme makers to Stourbridge was a) the fact that the line is the shortest in Britain and b) probably the most dangerous, being very steep and running into a dead end resulting in repeated accidents. Michael Portillo was amazed to discover a modern People Mover in place which is pioneering technology of worldwide interest.

Michael Portillo and James Pearson, the producer, discussed the special attributes of the People Mover concept with John Parry for approx 30 minutes during the filming at Stourbridge Junction. The TV people expressed the view that reopening closed railway lines was a big and interesting subject and could warrant a special documentary on the subject, or even a theme for a follow up series.

The conclusion was that these thoughts should be discussed with the BBC.

Click here to view the programme on YouTube.

16th October 2012

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 63 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including:

FRANCHISE BIDS BY MAJOR TRAIN OPERATORS PROPOSE PEOPLE MOVERS FOR SEVERAL BRANCH LINES
GREAT BRITISH RAILWAY JOURNEYS COMES TO
STOURBRIDGE
THE PAIN AND GAIN IN TAKING THE STRAIN
LCT GETS INVOLVED
PMOL PERFORMANCE BREAKS RECORDS
PARRY REPRESENTATIVES TAKE A STAND
POTENTIAL USE FOR PARRY RAILCARS IDENTIFIED DURING RESEARCH VISIT TO TURKEY
PARRY ASSOCIATES SETS A TRANSPORT R&D AGENDA
HYDROGEN AS A FUEL FOR TRAINS
ROAD-RAILER PASSENGER VEHICLE
PRIME OBJECTIVE TO DEVELOP A BRITISH TRAM-TRAIN
STUDY OF PROSPECT FOR NEW RAIL CONNECTION IN CHESHIRE
PRINT ME A PEOPLE MOVER!
RESTRUCTURED BUSINESSES BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE FOLLOWING REVALUATION OF IINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
THE ELEPHANT IN THE BALANCE SHEET
PARRY ASSOCIATES R&D AGENDA IN THE BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

20th March 2012

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 62 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including:

LATEST ON BOGIE RAILCAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS
CLASS 139s PERFORM WELL OVER THIRD WINTER
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY UK BASED AFRICAN DIASPORA
LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE STAIRS UNDER FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
NEWS FROM KENYA
NETWORK RAIL, DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT AND US GOVERNMENT RECOGNISE PARRY RAILCAR POTENTIAL
ALAN KEEF LTD AND PARRY IN NEW COLLABORATIONS INCLUDING TRACK INSPECTION VEHICLE
NEW MATERIAL TESTING FACILITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

13th February 2012

The US Department of Energy (DOE) some time ago made a decision to make a major review of its own stance influencing the development of hybrid vehicles following its previous stance of disregarding the use of flywheels. The international study report, commissioned from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, was published in December 2011. Parry People Movers were considered in this report and extracts can be seen on the Political and Government Comment page. The complete report can be downloaded here.

14th November 2011

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 61 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including: OCTOBER 2011: A MONTH IN A MILLION!; CITY FIRM SEES THE LIGHT; WE HAVE A PLAN; CAPACITY CONCERNS AT STOURBRIDGE BRANCH AS NEW BUS STATION TAKES SHAPE; INTERNATIONAL PPM RAILCAR PROSPECTS IN BRIEF; MORE ON McNULTY: SEASONAL BRANCH LINES; DESIGN MIX OF ORTHODOX AND INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING TO SPEED SPRINTER REPLACEMENT ON SLOWER LINES OF THE BRITISH RAILWAY NETWORK.

22nd July 2011

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 60 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including: Grant Boost to Railcar Development; Delta State Government Requests Detailed Submission and Republic of Ireland Interest Revealed; PPM Ltd on the Export Trail; Republic of Ireland; Making Tracks in Africa; Nigerian Prospects; Negotiations Further Afield: Thailand and Malaysia; Railway Review Sees the Light; US Department for Energy Contacts PPM; Opinion Sounding Exercise Indicates Strong Support for Brierley Hill Project; GWR 'Retro' Design Proposal; October Go-Ahead for Hampshire Project.

8th March 2011

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 59 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including: PPM in Bids for Tramways for Malaysian Cities; Brierley Hill to Stourbridge?; PMOL Driver Hurt as Rock Hits Windscreen; Car 12 Prototype Moved to Clayton Factory; Police Treat Attack on Railcars as a Serious Crime; Second Stourbridge Line to Brierley Hill Emerges as Top Contender for Next PPM Project; Mr H.G. Wells' Incredible Time Machine; County Council Steps Back at Oswestry; The KWVR Considers the Pros and Cons; Conversion of Abbey Line to Light Rail; High Level Consortium Favours PPM for Malaysian Cities.

8th February 2011

FURTHER STATEMENT REGARDING PPM RAILCAR IN HAMPSHIRE

Parry People Movers PPM 50 railcar ‘Car 12’ incurred mechanical damage shortly after being unloaded at Alresford on the Mid Hants Railway on 18th January, where it was intended that it would be used to operate a demonstration public service between Alton and Medstead & Four Marks. The hydrostatic transmission lost power during a long initial run over the full length of the line, on the day the vehicle arrived.

The hydrostatic transmission of the PPM 50 railcar was designed and supplied by Linde Hydraulics Ltd using standard equipment. It was installed in the railcar in 2001 and has operated trouble-free during all previous operations. Linde’s service engineer visited Car 12 in Hampshire at the earliest opportunity on 26th January and investigated the cause of the failure of the hydrostatic drive. This was identified as having happened within the pump. The most likely cause is cavitation, which can occur to a variable displacement pump which has been stood down for a lengthy period and is then subjected to a full loading. The pump should be fully repairable in 2-3 days once it is returned to Linde’s Abingdon works.

Some minor faults were also identified prior to the major hydrostatic failure, which should also not take long to put right in the course of commissioning.

Working with partners including Hampshire Country Council, Parry People Movers Ltd is investigating what will be needed to undertake a comprehensive upgrade of the PPM 50 railcar so that it is fully fit for purpose in intensive operation on the Mid Hants Railway and elsewhere.

A further factor puts in doubt the early resumption of demonstration services on the Mid Hants Railway. Car 12 is currently fitted for fuelling by LPG and has confirmed the suitability of this clean fuel, including during demonstration public operation on the Stourbridge Town branch in 2005-06. This fuel is however viewed as potentially impractical for handling at the MHR and so the upgrade may include conversion to diesel fuel or the alternative of direct LPG fuelling from a road tanker.

The inherent reliability of the Parry People Movers concept is not in doubt, with two PPM railcars in service on the Stourbridge Town branch of the national rail network having recorded service reliability of 99.5% during the complete year 2010, when nearly 70,000 services were operated and 465,000 passenger journeys made.

22nd January 2011

NOTE ON PLANNED HAMPSHIRE OPERATION

The planned operation of a PPM50 railcar on the Mid-Hants railway has had to be delayed due to technical issues.

Services will NOT commence on 24th January.

10th November 2010

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 58 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including: Nigerian consortium specifies PPM system for Abuja; Morale matters as never before; Prospective lightweight rail services on UK heritage lines move closer; Making the case for lightweight but interoperable railcars; The cities of developing countries are choking on congestion; Is this still a trial (after 600,000 passengers)?; Corporate and financial developments at PPM Ltd; Old buffers won't move, so a new generation jumps in front; In the works.

9th November 2010

PPML EXPECTS A BUSY FUTURE
A new press release lays out the company’s latest development and market position

12th August 2010

STOURBRIDGE SERVICE INFORMATION ADDED TO WEBSITE
Details of the Stourbridge Town branch line operation have been added to the ‘Where can I ride on a PPM railcar?’ FAQ, with a direct link from the home page. Information given includes how to get to Stourbridge by rail and road, with maps provided.

6th July 2010

PPM REFERENCED IN HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE
The breakthroughs achieved by Parry People Movers were mentioned by Lord Snape and Baroness Scott during a debate on 5th July on the subject of sustainable transport and its role in generating economic prosperity. Quotations from both peers can be seen on the Political & Government Comment page.

24th June 2010

NEW BROCHURE DESCRIBES PPM RAILCAR PERFORMANCE, OPERATIONAL ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES
A new brochure ‘HOW WE HAVE MADE OPERATING LOCAL RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS A LOT MORE AFFORDABLE’ introduces the PPM lightweight railcar. Find out more about its hybrid driveline, dramatic reductions of carbon emissions, sustained reliability and the passenger experience. The brochure details how the PPM railcar can be tailored to suit your specific requirements. The brochure can be seen on the Brochures & Leaflets page.

14th June 2010

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 57 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including: 65,000 Services, 400,000 Passengers, 70% Carbon Saving & 99% Reliability; Minister to Discuss Branch Line Potential; Lessons from Captain Scott; UK Government Backs Low-Carbon Transport; Public Preference for Rail; Making Light Rail More Affordable; Class 139 Models; Network Rail Improves Stourbridge Track; Branch Line Projects Examined; ‘Car 10’ + ‘Car 12’ = ‘Car 22’

20th May 2010

UK GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME LEANS TOWARDS PPM APPROACH
The policy programme published today by the UK’s Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government emphasises low carbon transport. PPML has issued a new press release in response.

12th May 2010

A RAIL TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FUTURE
A new press release from PPML explains how lightweight rail technology aligns with the policies of the new coalition government partners, and gives performance figures showing the success of the first full operation at Stourbridge.

6th May 2010

PPM HISTORY SHOWN ON YOUTUBE
A new film available on YouTube and linked from here shows a brief history of PPM by Simon Smiler of CityTransportInfo. The film includes early operation at Himley Model Village, the street tramway demonstration in Barking and full service operation at Stourbridge.

15th April 2010

SECRETARY OF STATE COMPLIMENTS STOURBRIDGE BRANCH SERVICE
Lord Andrew Adonis visited Stourbridge on 13th April and included in his itinerary a return journey on the Stourbridge Town branch and a visit to the depot facilities for the PPML Class 139 railcars. His impressions, recorded on the blog he is keeping of his ‘Great Rail Journey’, are also shown on the Political & Government Comment page. PPML has also issued a press release.

29th January 2010

PARRY NEWS ISSUE 56 PUBLISHED

Newsletter including: 200,000th Passenger on Stourbridge Service; PPM Ltd Asks for More Cash from Shareholders; Quick Thinking by Crews in Face of Criminal Acts; Georgia Project Nearer to Securing Funding; Praise for Class 139 Performance After First 40,000 Services Operated on Stourbridge Town Branch; Transport Players Consider Plan for Maintenance Upgrade; Round-up of Lightweight Rail Market Prospects in the UK; Why the Flywheel?; Good Progress with 'Car 12' Refit; Illustrated Class 139 Manual Takes Shape for Train Leasing Company.

7th January 2010

SNOW RESCUE
The unfortunate event of a Class 139 vehicle failure on the Stourbridge Town branch yesterday resulted in the rescue of one railcar by the other during Britain’s coldest winter in years. The photograph to the left shows 139 001 hauling 139 002 up the incline from Town to Junction. Service resumed shortly afterwards using 139 001.