Pictured: The railway in Britain that's Europe's shortest line
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
Related articles
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) — The road for Shota Imanaga from Japan to the major leagues included at least one shar2024-05-21Simone Biles wants to turn her post
Simone Biles is bringing back her Gold Over America Tour this fall, with a twist.This time, the guys2024-05-21'Who is still buying iPads?' Gadget fans question why Apple is still churning out new tablets
When Steve Jobs first introduced the iPad back in 2010, he claimed that it would be more powerful th2024-05-21London is set to become 'Manhattan
London is set to become 'Manhattan-on-Thames' as it gets up to 600 new skyscrapers in the next decad2024-05-21The unstoppable duo of Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos
CANNES, France (AP) — Before a journalist has even lobbed a question, Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimo2024-05-21Iowa law allows police to arrest and deport migrants. Civil rights groups are suing
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Civil rights and immigrant rights groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday allegin2024-05-21
atest comment