Current location:entertainment >>
Pictured: The railway in Britain that's Europe's shortest line
entertainment7People have gathered around
IntroductionBritain doesn't hold many current railway records, but it does have a line in the West Midlands that ...
Britain doesn't hold many current railway records, but it does have a line in the West Midlands that claims the title of Europe's shortest – the Stourbridge branch line.
At just 0.8 miles (1.2km/1,287 metres) in length, it's also Britain's shortest railway line.
What's more, the service that runs on it is operated by 'Pre Metro' and West Midlands Railway using a pair of rare Class 139 'Parry People Movers'.
They are the only Class 139s in service in the UK.
The one-car vehicles - the brainchild of light rail pioneer John Parry - are described by Pre Metro as 'self-sustained trams', powered by a hybrid flywheel and an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) engine.
Europe's shortest railway line – the Stourbridge branch line
The website for the line explains that the flywheel enables the shuttles to perform regenerative braking, where the vehicles' kinetic energy is collected when braking, and later re-used for acceleration.
The line they trundle up and down was opened in 1879, with Parry People Mover passengers today carried along it at up to 20mph (32kph).
The journey, between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction, takes just three minutes and costs £1.50.
Services depart every 10 minutes. That's 1,370 services every week, with two drivers in place for 'safety and stellar customer service', according to Pre Metro.
The service that runs on the Stourbridge branch line is operated by 'Pre Metro' and West Midlands Railway using a pair of rare Class 139 'Parry People Movers'
The journey, between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction, takes just three minutes, with services departing every 10 minutes
The line was opened in 1879, with Parry People Mover passengers today carried along it at up to 20mph (32kph)
The line was originally built to move goods and people between Stourbridge's canal basin and the mainline rail network at Stourbridge junction, providing a vital link to Worcester, Kidderminster and Birmingham.
Another notably short passenger route in the UK is the journey by plane from Papa Westray to Westray in the Scottish archipelago of Orkney - with the flight covering a distance of just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres).
It takes just one minute and 14 seconds.
The shortest railway in the world is Los Angeles' Angels Flight funicular, which is just 298 feet long.
It takes passengers from Hill Street to Grand Avenue.
The one-car Class 139s - the brainchild of light rail pioneer John Parry - are described as 'self-sustained trams'
Read more:- The Stourbridge Shuttle - The Stourbridge Branch Line
- About - The Stourbridge Shuttle
- The Stourbridge Shuttle: How Does It Work? - YouTube
- Angels Flight® Railway | Los Angeles Landmark since 1901
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Earth Enquirer news portal”。http://saotomeandprincipe.bahnsport.org/content-11e699921.html
Related articles
Children are evacuated from school 'during an exam' after threat made via email
entertainmentChildren have been evacuated from a school with Year 11 students told to leave mid-exam after a thre ...
Read moreTyra Banks reveals she had very first alcoholic drink AFTER turning 50: 'It wasn't worth it!'
entertainmentTyra Banks revealed that she had her very first alcoholic drink on her 50th birthday in December. Wh ...
Read moreDraisaitl scores twice as Oilers beat Kings 4
entertainmentEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings played a tight-checking series at ...
Read more
Popular articles
- Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
- Draisaitl scores twice as Oilers beat Kings 4
- Vegas retaliation on Stars forward Seguin costly as defending champion Knights now trail series
- This Texas veterinarian helped crack the mystery of bird flu in cows
- Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
- Muñoz strikes out seven over six innings to get 1st major league win, Marlins beat Rockies 4
Latest articles
French sports minister calls for sanctions after Monaco player tapes over anti
Swiss ballet group stages classics in Beijing
Mariska Hargitay, 60, sizzles in edgy all
Heat on the Hurricanes after hooker injuries in Super Rugby Pacific
Justin Timberlake set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia in 2025
Zhejiang crush Shanghai to reach CBA semis
LINKS
- Traveler issues severe warning to any 'morning people' who want to visit Argentina
- Caitlin Clark fever is spreading. Indiana is all
- Fed's Powell: Elevated inflation will likely delay rate cuts this year
- Donors pledge $630 million for conflict
- Silent struggles plague Cambodian refugees in Bangkok — Radio Free Asia
- Bank of America accused of religious and political 'discrimination' by 'de
- Olympic gold is great, but athletes say some cash to go with it is even better
- Ecuador rations electricity as drought persists in the northern Andes
- Laos and Cambodia see rise in traffic deaths over New Years weekend — Radio Free Asia
- I'm a vet and here are my 5 unpopular opinions about pet ownership