Introduction
Parry People Movers based in Cradley Health supply lightweight tram systems especially suited to small towns. Parry People Movers apply a development philosophy that combines design and construction techniques from other sectors to create energy efficient and low cost rail vehicles.
The very first passenger service using Parry People Mover connects Stourbridge Junction Station with Stourbridge Town Station and began operating in 2009.
What it involved
An early model was developed and funded in the early 1990’s by the Passenger Transport Association and company shareholders. The Science Research Council provided a grant because it was an early example of a hybrid technology that combines conventional and alternative sources of power.
The development of the Parry People Mover involved the design and construction of the railway, gaining approvals, isolating the track from the main railway line, mapping and managing the route with partners Network Rail and Pre Metro Operations. The operation of the Parry People Mover is an ongoing activity.
How the technology works
The Parry People Mover is the application of a rotating flywheel that is used to power the vehicle. The flywheel captures break energy used when the train is slowing down or going downhill and stores it for acceleration. This movement energy is then used to power the vehicle avoiding the need to overhead power cables or a large engine to power the vehicles meaning less energy is used to power the trams.
Outcomes
The vehicles operating on the Stourbridge Branch Line emit less than one third of the carbon dioxide produced per day compared to conventional trains while running 50% more trains. The trams currently operating are the most reliable ones on the national network and the service was maintained during prolonged periods of snow in the winter of 2010 to provide a reliable service.
The service between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction is co-ordinated with the mainline services and is very popular with local people; there have been over one million passenger journies on the service since its inception. An estimated 2000 passenger journies are made using the service every day.
The high environmental quality of the Parry People Mover has received widespread acknowledgment as Millennium Product Status from the Design Council and two SMART awards for industrial achievement. The system has also been praised by Lord Andrew Adonis, the former Secretary of State for Transport and Birmingham Friends of the Earth for its’ environmental benefits.
