| 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 |
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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’ |
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| 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 |
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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. |
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| 7th January 2010 |
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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. |
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| 15th December 2009 |
STOURBRIDGE OPERATION CARRIES 200,000th PASSENGER
The 200,000th passenger journey made on a Class 139 railcar, operated by Pre Metro Operations Ltd on the Stourbridge Town branch line occurred on Thursday 10th December. Two days later, the 200,00th and 200,001st passengers to travel on the service returned to Stourbridge Town station to receive commemorative certificates from local MP Lynda Waltho, whose comments can be seen on the Political & Government Comment page. |
| 28th September 2009 |
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PARRY NEWS ISSUE 55 PUBLISHED
Newsletter including: PPM American Breakthrough; Stourbridge Railcars on National Television; New Development in America Specifies PPM; Kevin Hart Associates Consolidates Parry Relationship; Transit Oriented Development Already Proven in Germany; Wear Causes Temporary Service Suspension; Renaissance Initiative for UK Branch Lines; Lightweight Rail for Thames Valley Branches; Wheelset Repair for Lightweight Rail. |
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| 23rd September 2009 |
CLASS 139 SERVICE RESUMES AT STOURBRIDGE
Lightweight rail operation restarted on the Stourbridge Town branch today. All parties from across the rail industry are working together to produce a permanent solution to the issue of wheel wear. |
| 18th September 2009 |
SUSPENSION OF RAILCAR SERVICE
On Friday 11th September, railcar No. 139 002 was taken out of service at Stourbridge due to excessive wheel flange wear. The other vehicle, No. 139 001, had already been confined to depot for the same reason. A Network Rail team of wheel-rail specialists have begun investigating the cause of a sudden increase in wear rate that appears to have occurred during the month of August. This affected the wheels on one side of both railcars and emerged after thousands of miles of operation without previous excessive wear.
Possible factors include the wheel profile, wheel metallurgy, design of suspension, or alterations that may have occurred in the operation of the rail lubrication regime using trackside equipment on a line notable for its sharp curves.
In order for the Class 139s to return to service in the next few days, two new wheels are being taken from the replacement stock and two worn wheels are being repaired. |
