| Transport Case Study no.2: Temporary demonstrations of street tramways |
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In the mid-1990s, when the Parry People Movers concept of lightweight, flywheel powered rail vehicles (see Transport Case Study 1) had developed to the point where small trams carrying up to 20 passengers had been produced, a number of local authorities became interesting in exhibiting this new form of transport in practical demonstrations.
Parry Associates picked up the challenge, which led to operating demonstrations of street tramways in four locations across the UK: Birmingham, Brighton, Swansea and Barking (east London).
Preparatory work included the development of an entirely new, temporary, track system that could be quickly installed in a city street and then taken away leaving no evidence. The track had to be safe in areas accessible to the public and it had to be approved as safe for passenger operation by Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate. In addition, power supply for the intermittent electrical supply system had to be arranged and the trams themselves accepted for passenger service.
Working with its industry partners, JPM Parry & Associates is now developing a permanent form of tramway infrastructure based on the temporary track used for the demonstrations, which will be far quicker, cheaper and more convenient to install than the major infrastructure works involved in the construction of so-called "light rail" systems
Transport Case Study 1: Development of a new form of rail vehicle
Transport Case Study 3: Report to the Chief Scientific Adviser - Office of Science & Technology
Transport Case Study 4: Approval of lightweight suburban rail operation on UK national rail network
Transport Case Study 5: Design and construction of rail structures
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