British Rail Class 139

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
British Rail Class 139 PPM

139 002 at Stourbridge Junction
In service 2009-
Manufacturer Parry People Movers
Family name PPM
Number built 2
Formation 1 car
Capacity 20-25 seated, 30-35 standing[1]
Operator London Midland
Line(s) served Stourbridge Town Branch Line
Specifications
Car body construction Stainless steel frame
Car length 9.6 m (31 ft)[1][2]
Width 2.4 m (7.9 ft)[1]
Height 3.2 m (10 ft)[1]
Maximum speed 65 km/h (40 mph)[1]
Weight 12 t[3] (PPM50)
Traction system 1,000–2,600 rpm flywheel[1]
Engine(s) Ford DSG423 2.3 litres (4.0 imp pt) LPG[1]
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge
999 900 approaches Stourbridge Town, 12 March 2006
139 001 on display at Tyseley, 28 June 2008.

British Rail Class 139 is the TOPS classification[4] for PPM60 model lightweight[5][6][7] railcars built by Parry People Movers,[5] for use on the British rail network. The class were originally built in 2008 for operation on the Stourbridge Town Branch Line following an extensive trial with a prototype registered as a Class 999 unit.

The first newly constructed Class 139 was shown on 28 June 2008 at the Tyseley Locomotive Works Open Day. The full fleet of two units eventually entered public service on the branchline in June 2009.

Contents

[edit] Technology

The Class 139 units are typical of the Parry People Mover concept, in that they utilise flywheel energy storage as the main source of energy,[8] to propel the vehicle. The flywheel captures braking energy when the brakes are used,[8] and re-uses the energy for acceleration. As the unit's primary motive power comes from the flywheel, this eliminates the need for a large diesel engine. The small onboard engine is used to power up the vehicle initially, and to provide power for the onboard systems.[8]

[edit] Usage

The concept of using the lightweight[3][5][6][7] railcar came about in 2006, when a year-long pilot scheme began on the Stourbridge Town Branch Line on Sundays, using a PPM50 unit constructed in 2002 and numbered as 999 900 under TOPS. The success of this pilot meant that the provision of regular services using the technology was incorporated in the franchise plans for the new West Midlands Franchise. Following the award of the franchise to London Midland, they placed an order for two PPM60 units with Parry People Movers, through Porterbrook leasing.

These two units are 139 001 and 139 002, composed of vehicle numbers 39001 and 39002 in the British carriage and wagon numbering and classification system. The vehicles are mechanically similar to 999 900, but are approximately one metre longer. They were intended to start operating on the Stourbridge Town branch in 2008.[9] In January 2009 it was confirmed that 139001 was still undergoing testing at Chasewater Railway and 139002 was still not completed.[10]

Despite the difficulties in the commissioning of the two Class 139 units, London Midland consistently outlined its faith that they would be ready to enter service. In March 2009, it was announced that the first unit had received its passenger certification from Network Rail, allowing it to carry passengers. London Midland stated that they would begin a phased entry into service, starting with weekend operation in April, leading up to a full service by the timetable change in May 2009.[11] Until then, London Midland temporarily returned a Class 153 to operating the branch service.[12] 139002 officially entered service on 29 March 2009 as part of the type's phased entry. This unit had previously worked in full service, including all-day on Monday 11 May 2009 and previously had worked all morning services during February/March 2009.[13] In May 2009 the first unit, 139 001 was finally delivered to Stourbridge, with 999 900 removed at the same time.[13] The test unit 999 900 had been on the branch line between 2005–2009.[13] At the point of introduction, they displaced a single Class 153 DMU that was previously allocated to the branch line.

[edit] Future

Parry People Movers are using London Midland's purchase of the Class 139 for the short Stourbridge line to promote the PPM concept for other lines that are short and essentially separate from the main railway network as a means of reintroducing rail travel to areas that have seen it curtailed.[14] PPML indicated that they intended to use a variation of the PPM60 model, to be known as the PPM220, to bid for the contract to build a small fleet of experimental tram-trains for use on the Penistone Line, and for the new generation DMUs intended as part of the Government's rolling stock plan. This will entail an articulated unit, with a pair of PPM60 variants at either end of a fixed passenger unit—the whole unit will be capable of accommodating up to 220 passengers and travelling at up to 60 miles per hour (100 km/h) on railways or 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) on tramways.[15] The Penistone trial however was cancelled before a bidder was selected and replaced in September 2009 with an electric Rotherham-Sheffield trial.[16]

[edit] Fleet details

Class Operator No. Built Year Built Cars per Set Unit nos. Carriage nos. Length Seated Standing
Class 139 London Midland 2 2008 1 139001 - 139002 39001 - 39002 9.6 m 25 35

Class 139 London Midland Diagram.PNG

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "PPM 50/ PPM 60 Specification". Parry People Movers. http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/PPM50-60-spec.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-14. "Dimensions: Length [..] 9.6m [..] Width 2.4m [..] Height 3.2m (high floor) Maximum speed: 65km/h on suitable trackwork [..] Passenger accommodation: Typical capacity 20-25 seated plus 30-35 standing [..] Flywheel energy storage: Effective speed range 1,000-2,600rpm [..] Self-powered vehicles: Engine Ford DSG423 2.3L LPG fuel)" 
  2. ^ "Eco-friendly tram celebrates 200,000th passenger". Stourbridge News (Birmingham, United Kingdom). 2009-12-15. http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/4794766.Eco_friendly_tram_celebrates_200_000th_passenger/. Retrieved 2010-06-29. "revolutionary gas powered tram ... Its official title might well be the Class 139 LPG powered light rail vehicle but to everyone local to this area it is the Parry People Mover" 
  3. ^ a b "Clean, Green & Quiet - Lightweight Railcar Operation Scores Success and Acclaim in Passenger Service". Parry People Movers. 2006-11-30. http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/PR2006-11-30.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-29. "the 12-tonne PPM 50 vehicle" 
  4. ^ Today's Railways (74): 59. 
  5. ^ a b c Tift, Duncan (2007-08-01). "Green light for PPM to pioneer new rail policy". Birmingham Post. http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/tm_headline=green-light-for-ppm-to-pioneer-new-rail-policy&method=full&objectid=19553037&siteid=50002-name_page.html. Retrieved 2010-06-29. "Parry People Movers ... based in Cradley Heath, supplies lightweight rail and tram vehicles." 
  6. ^ a b "£700,000 oredr for two lightweight railcars". TransportXtra. 2008-07-14. http://www.transportxtra.com/magazines/transit/news/?ID=11669. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  7. ^ a b "Class 153s temporarily return to the Stourbridge Branch as a description.". Railway Herald (170): 5. 2009-03-16. http://www.railwayherald.org/magazine/pdf/RHUK/Issue170.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-29. "However, problems introducing the new lightweight railcars," 
  8. ^ a b c "PPM Technology". Parry People Mover Limited. http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/technology.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-30. "The rotating flywheel is a store of kinetic energy that is used to power the vehicle. ... flywheel allows the direct capture of brake energy ... A two-litre engine to transport fifty passengers. ... on board LPG-fuelled automotive engine is used." 
  9. ^ "Parry People Movers for Stourbridge branch line". http://www.londonmidland.com/index.php/news/news_items/view/23. 
  10. ^ Rail Express. January 2009. 
  11. ^ "Stourbridge railcar receives its passenger licence". London Midland. 2009-03-26. http://www.londonmidland.com/index.php/news/news_items/view/111. 
  12. ^ "Trains return to the Stourbridge Line - including Sundays". London Midland. 2009-03-12. http://www.londonmidland.com/index.php/news/news_items/view/105. Retrieved 2009-03-29. [dead link]
  13. ^ a b c "Latest News". Parry People Movers. 2009-06-19. http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/latest_news.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-24. 
  14. ^ "Parliamentary Light Rail Group hears case for reopenings". Parry News. Parry People Movers Limited. March 2008. p. 3. http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/pdf/NL50.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 
  15. ^ "Worldwide Scope for Tram-Trains" (PDF). Parry News. Parry People Movers Limited. November 2008. p. 4. http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/pdf/nl52.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 
  16. ^ "City tram-trains trial unveiled". BBC News Online. 2009-09-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8257652.stm. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: British Rail Class 139
Diesel multiple units of the United Kingdom
First generation units:
First Generation
Original TOPS:
First generation units
(pre-TOPS):
Second generation units:
Diesel-electric units:
Southern Railway designations:
Families
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=British_Rail_Class_139&oldid=469699872"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages