Since the early 1990s, Parry Associates have led the development and manufacture of a series of light rail vehicles for Parry People Movers Ltd using Parry Associates' patented "Kinergetic" energy storage system. This has brought to the market a new generation of lightweight trams and railcars with superior environmental performance, which do not require continuous electrification to operate.
From the earliest two-seater prototype, the technology developed with steadily larger vehicles being built and successfully tested. Over 100,000 passengers have travelled on PPM trams and railcars.
Project management by Parry Associates led to an experimental public operation on Britain's national rail network in 2005-06. A Parry People Movers PPM 50 railcar, operated by Pre Metro Operations Ltd, ran over 4,000 journeys in passenger service on the Stourbridge Town branch. Reliability and punctuality of 99% were achieved, and compared to conventional diesel trains an 80% cut in carbon dioxide emissions was calculated.
This success led to the selection of Parry People Movers technology to operate the full service on the branch line under the new London Midland franchise, agreed between transport operator Govia and the UK Government's Department for Transport in June 2007. Two new railcars will be carrying Stourbridge passengers by the end of 2008.
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