As you’ll probably be well aware – we may have reported on it every now and then! – the Very Light Rail Innovation in Dudley has become a repair base for the West Midlands Metro Urbos3 trams with several having been moved there since last October for work to take place on its bodyside panelling where cracks were discovered. But on a visit in mid-May 2023, Andy Walters found another trams stabled outside as we see in this latest pictorial update.
The date of this visit was Sunday 14th May with the Very Light Rail Innovation Centre building home to two trams under repair. These were 25 and 30 which had been moved over on 25th March and 14th April respectively. From a quick look it seems that 25 is starting to reach an end to the work with some of the seats now having been reinstalled in the tram.
But that wasn’t where the tram interest ended as stabled outside was a Parry People Mover. In a plain white livery the vehicle has various logos of companies who have obviously been involved in some development of the concept. This includes HM Government, Pre Metro Operations (who operate the Stourbridge shuttle service), Dudley College of Technology, Birmingham City University and Parry People Movers. Where this vehicle has previously run is unknown and what its purpose at the facility is also not known.
25 is closest to the window is this view from outside the facility. 30 is on the far side.
Through the next window and another look at 25. There remain a number of seats stored by the side of the tram.
The Parry People Mover stabled on the test track.
Another view of the Parry People Mover. (All Photographs by Andy Walters, 14th May 2023)
I believe this ‘PPM’ came from Long Marston, where the old T68/T68a’s plus T69’s are stored
Money being spent on the Coventry ‘light tram’ project that is unlikely to be a worthwhile system. There have been proper electric trams in the UK since 1885. Perhaps someone should tell them not to waste their time and public money on things that resemble the 1974 Sheffield minitrams that never were and many subsequent projects cancelled after millions were spent.