The UK opportunities for ultra-light rail are enormous

John Parry, Parry People Movers Ltd, Cradley Heath, West Midlands B64

24 July 2015

The key to ultra-light rail markets is keeping the technology simple and low-cost, says John Parry, whose Class 139 Parry People Mover can be built to high or low-floor specifications

Your comment column on ultra-light rail in the last issue ends by asking what is the potential market size for the technology in the UK (‘Any takers for ultra-light rail?’ LTT 10 Jul).

Many in the rail industry do not perceive any need to spread the coverage of the rail network or assist with the first mile of customers’ daily journeys from home to destinations. What’s wrong with buses? they ask. But while the volume of passenger journeys to work by rail is rising,...