Pre Metro Operations

Pre Metro Operations

Class 139 at Stourbridge Town in June 2009
Overview
Franchise(s):	Open access operator Not subject to franchising Commenced operations in June 2009
Main route(s):	Stourbridge Junction - Stourbridge Town
Fleet size:	2 Class 139s
Stations called at:	2
Stations operated:	0
Parent company:	Parry People Movers
Website:	premetro.co.uk

Pre Metro Operations Ltd.^[1] is an open-access train operating company in the United Kingdom, based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands. It was founded by parent company Parry People Movers in 1999 and commenced operations in June 2009.

Pre Metro Operations currently operate services on the Stourbridge Town Branch Line on behalf of the West Midlands rail franchise, using two Class 139 railcars. During the current West Midlands rail franchise period, which is scheduled to run until 31 October 2017, the service will be branded as the London Midland Stourbridge Shuttle, with both railcars carrying London Midland livery. However, Pre Metro Operations themselves are an open-access operator not subject to franchising.

History

Pre Metro Operations were formed in 1999 as the train operating company subsidiary of railcar manufacturer Parry People Movers, with the intention of running services on short branch lines across the UK using PPM-manufactured railcars.^[2]

Between 2005 and 2006, a prototype Parry People Movers railcar, 999900, entered service on the Stourbridge Town Branch Line in order to test the viability of using PPMs on branch lines. Subsequently, it was decided to make the trial permanent. Two Class 139 railcars were constructed in 2008, and Pre Metro Operations used these to take over full operation of the Stourbridge Town Branch Line from London Midland in June 2009.^[3]

Routes and services

Pre Metro Operations currently operate a single route, the Stourbridge Town Branch Line between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town.

From Monday to Saturday there are six trains per hour in both directions, with services running every ten minutes using a single Class 139 railcar, with the second Class 139 as a spare. An end to end journey on the branch line takes only three minutes. Weekday services commence at around 0600 and draw to a close shortly after midnight, with Saturday services starting later and ending earlier.

On Sundays, there are four trains per hour operating every fifteen minutes in both directions, with services commencing around 1000 and ending around 2000.

Performance

Performance statistics for Pre Metro Operations are not officially released by the Office for Rail Regulation, being included in the final total for London Midland. However, self-published data shows that Pre Metro Operations have a consistently high Public Performance Measure (PPM) that, since records began in 2011, has never fallen below 97.7%.^[4] Pre Metro Operations are the only existing train operating company ever to achieve a PPM score of 100.0%, having done so on fourteen separate occasions.^[5][6] As of February 2016, Pre Metro Operations' PPM score was 99.54%.^[7] If included in the ORR data, this would make Pre Metro Operations the most reliable train operating company in the United Kingdom in terms of PPM, as of 2015/16 Period 13.^[8]

Rolling stock

The Pre Metro Operations fleet currently consists of two Class 139 railcars manufactured by their parent company, Parry People Movers. These are numbered 139001 and 139002. During normal service, one railcar is used per day, with the other as a spare or undergoing maintenance.

Class	Image	Type	Top Speed		Number	Routes Operated	Built
			mph	km/h
139 Parry People Mover		Railcar	40	64	2	Stourbridge Town Branch Line	2008

Depot

The Pre Metro Operations fleet is maintained at a small purpose-built depot at Stourbridge Junction.

References