Cat Eccles, MP for Stourbridge, has given her support towards plans to open a Very Light Rail (VLR) line to Brierley Hill during a recent meeting with Pre Metro Operations Ltd – who have operated the short Stourbridge Shuttle service for the past 17 years.
Pre Metro operate the service which runs between Stourbridge Shuttle and Stourbridge Town using two Parry People Movers, and it is the only operating VLR line anywhere in the UK at the moment. They carry over 8 million passengers and manage 99% reliability.
They now have ambitions to open a line between Stourbridge and Brierley Hill using a little-used freight line to help solve congestion issues in the area.
Steve Jasper, Chairman of Pre Metro, commented: “We’re so pleased to have a warm and productive working relationship with our local MP, who’s clearly recognised the importance of our shuttle service to the people of Stourbridge. Given levels of congestion in the Black Country, putting on more buses is simply not an option.
“At Pre Metro, we’re very proud to have innovated the public transport offer, being the first to bring VLR to the UK and having such a successful track record in offering a sustainable and very affordable public transport solution.
“We estimate that by using the existing freight line between Stourbridge and Brierley Hill, a dual track and little-used freight line, we can make this option open to the public for around a £30m investment, a great value-for-money option in these challenging times. There will be numerous benefits, including economic regeneration, new commuter and leisure journey choices and reduced congestion on busy Black Country roads.”
Cat Eccles MP said: “I’m a huge fan of the Stourbridge Shuttle. I think it’s a really key feature of Stourbridge. Lots of people are big fans of it. People come from all over the country to see the Stourbridge Shuttle!
“I think one of the really important ways we can move forward with the success of the Stourbridge Shuttle is by creating that link between Stourbridge and Brierley Hill, and in particular now we’ve got the Midland Metro confirmed into Brierley Hill, I think that it’s absolutely the right time to make that link and get a train on that line between Stourbridge and Brierley Hill and ensure we’ve got the mobility for the future public transport along that route as well.
“And I think that Pre Metro could be the ones to do this.”
The proposed Dudley Dasher service is currently unfunded.