Black Country invention could transform local rail travel across Europe says Liz Lynne. (Birmingham Yardley Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Yardley Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Black Country invention could transform local rail travel across Europe says Liz Lynne.

November 10, 2008 5:20 PM
Originally published by Liz Lynne MEP

Local Liberal Democrat Euro MP Liz Lynne has hailed the Black Country's unique Parry People Mover trains as a huge breakthrough in the cost of providing low energy green public transport in the era of the credit crunch.

Liz Lynne, the LibDems' Employment and Social Affairs Spokesman in the European Parliament, tried out the prototype PPM 50 Parry People Mover train on Friday at their depot at Stourbridge Junction Station. Earlier she had talks with PPM chairman and chief executive John Parry at his hq at Overend Road in Cradley Heath.

The Parry People Mover works by using a rechargeable flywheel that stores energy, which can recycle power drawn from braking or going downhill when the train needs to accelerate again. This allows it to run at up to 50 mph but use only 20% of the energy needed by conventional diesel trains, and about 7% of the energy to move the same number of people by car.

Two PPM60 railcars being supplied to London Midland have recently won type approval as Class 139 on the national rail network and are due to go into permanent service on the Stourbridge Town branch in December.

Speaking after test riding the train Liz said:

"It is an absolutely fantastic idea in the best traditions of innovative Black Country engineering and great fun to ride. I am so proud that John Parry and his team are creating innovative solutions to problems such as congestion and climate change right here in the West Midlands. This year, after so long as just another good idea, the flywheel powered railcar will go into normal service on a national rail network. This is a great achievement.

"The concept is massive breakthrough, as so many rail projects - such as Midland Metro - have failed or been delayed because of the large infrastructure costs. In this era of the credit crunch, we need cheaper and greener solutions to congestion - the Parry system could transform local short distance rail travel across Europe. It would be ideal for links such as the Metro extension to Brierley Hill and many other routes.

"The Liberal Democrats are committed to a carbon free Britain by 2050 and I, along with my LibDem colleagues in the EU, have been fighting hard to make sure that Europe as a whole plays its part in tackling climate change. If we are to achieve this goal then we need to take advantage of these clever inventions on our doorstep. I am very encouraged by what I have seen and wish the Parry People Mover every success."

John Parry, the Chairman of JM Parry Ltd said that they hoped that their invention would provide a new way of looking at public transportation. "We really believe than green, small scale railways are the best way to help take cars off our roads and easy the appalling congestion that clogs the roads up and down the UK."

LibDem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Wyre Forest Neville Farmer, who also attended the event added:

"We do have major problems with transport in the Kidderminster area, and it is very important we look at new ways of tackling the problem. I hope that innovations like the Parry People Mover may provide part of the solution to getting people out of their cars and onto public transport."

ENDS