Monday February 6 2006 – Third Joint Press Release from
STOURBRIDGE'S "KINERGETIC" RAIL SERVICE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED
Formal send-off of clean, green railcar by Stourbridge MP and Transport Executive's Director General on 5th February
Innovation was officially introduced to the West Midlands' railways on Sunday 5th February when services using a Parry People Movers (PPM) light railcar were launched at a special ceremony. Sunday passenger services are run by licensed train operator Pre Metro Operations Ltd (PMOL) between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town.
Watched by over a hundred guests from the transport industry, local authorities, central government and onlookers from the general public, Rob Donald - Director General of Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive) - and Lynda Waltho, Member of Parliament for Stourbridge, spoke of their pleasure at seeing the environmentally-friendly mode of transport in public service.
Mr Donald described how Centro are supporting the first public operation of PPM technology with a view of its potential to be used to improve transport throughout the West Midlands county. Mrs Waltho spoke of how Stourbridge's important railway heritage was being brought right up to date, and of her hopes that the short Stourbridge Town branch could be extended to serve the town's centre using PPM's tram-type systems.
PPM's Chairman John Parry told the assembled audience how the concept of lightweight rail can provide transport that will attract people from their cars - reducing pollution and making towns and cities more pleasant places to live and work in - as well as providing a new export market for British industry.
"It's one short journey by one small rail vehicle, but it has taken a giant leap of imagination by the authorities in an industry which does not readily accept innovative ideas," said Mr Parry, referring to the revolutionary nature of PPM and PMOL's approach compared to more traditional railway operating practices.
The "Kinergetic" energy storage technique gives PPM railcars and trams better environmental performance than almost any other form of transport. Public services at on the Stourbridge Town branch are seen as a precursor to the use of lightweight rail systems for new tramways on town streets, for reopening closed rail lines, and for replacing existing "heavy rail" trains on branch lines that currently require large subsidies to operate.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. Pre Metro Operations Ltd operates a full day service on Sundays between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town stations (first service departs Stourbridge Junction at 09.36, last service departs Stourbridge Town at 19.55). There are four departures per hour in each direction from 10.20, with a reduced-frequency service at the beginning of the day. Tickets, including a PMOL Day ticket priced at £2 giving unlimited travel between the two stations for a day, can be purchased from on-board staff. Standard rail fares apply and valid rail tickets and travel passes are accepted.
2. The passenger operation on the Stourbridge Town branch is supported by Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive) and the Strategic Rail Authority's Community Rail programme (now administered by the Department for Transport).
3. Limited public services ran on and December 11 and 18, 2005. Full-day services were introduced on January 8 2006.
4. PMOL Sunday services were officially launched at a ceremony on 5th February 2006 with Centro's Director General Rob Donald and Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho officiating.
5. The PMOL operation gives the Stourbridge Town branch its first regular Sunday service since 1915.
Parry People Movers Ltd information
COMPANY: Parry People Movers Ltd (PPM) was founded in 1992 to develop rail transport based on a new innovation: the "Kinergetic" flywheel energy store, which allows vehicles to run extremely efficiently and to recapture their braking energy for reuse when accelerating. The company is owned by approximately 200 shareholders and is quoted on the OFEX market.
ADVANTAGES: PPM 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. PPM vehicles are fully compliant with accessibility regulations.
ACHIEVEMENTS: Twelve PPM vehicles have been built, ranging in capacity from 2 to 50 passengers. Between them they have carried over 100,000 passengers. Previous PPM vehicles have operated in Bristol, Brighton, Barking, Swansea, Birmingham, Oswestry and elsewhere.
RAILCAR HISTORY: PPM 50 Light Railcar No. 999 900 has also run on the Chasewater Railway, the Great Central Railway, the Severn Valley Railway and the Wensleydale Railway since it was built in 2001. Proving runs were undertaken on the Stourbridge Town branch in 2002.
TECHNOLOGY: The "Kinergetic" technology used in PPM vehicles is licensed to the company by JPM Parry & Associates Ltd (www.parryassociates.com), a West Midlands engineering company specialising in overseas development, integrated transport, and energy/environmental issues.
PHOTOGRAPHS: A wide range of pictures of PPM vehicles can be obtained from Parry People Movers Ltd (contact details below).
FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact -
John Parry MBE, Chairman, Parry People Movers Ltd
Overend Road, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, B64 7DD
Telephone: +44 (0)1384 569553
Fax: +44 (0)1384 637753
Email: info@parrypeoplemovers.com
Website: www.parrypeoplemovers.com
Pre Metro Operations Ltd information
COMPANY: Pre Metro Operations Ltd bridges the gap between traditional railways, light rail/tramways and bus operation. PMOL's team is qualified to provide integrated transport services and innovative approaches to rail transport, including the use of new technologies such as the vehicles supplied by Parry People Movers Ltd.
ACHIEVEMENTS: PMOL is a licensed train operator and the first in the UK to run non-electrified lightweight rolling stock on the Network Rail system. It has obtained authority from Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate and Network Rail to operate the new passenger service on the Stourbridge Town branch.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact -
Mr Phil Evans, Chief Executive, Pre Metro Operations Ltd,
21 Woodglade Croft, King's Norton, Birmingham, B38 8TD
Telephone/Fax: +44 (0)121 243 9906.
E-mail: premetro@aol.com
Website: www.premetro.co.uk
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