A TRIAL mini-tram service in the Black Country has been so successful it may be extended to seven days a week, it has been revealed.
The Parry People Mover, which has been running on Sundays for the past year between Stourbridge Town railway station and Stourbridge Junction, may run every day of the week when a new company takes over from Central Trains.
Councillors believe a 10-minute shuttle service could build on the success of the trial operation.
Rail companies bidding to take over from Central Trains are being urged to draw up plans to offer Stourbridge passengers the improved service.
Centro-PTA has helped fund the trial by the Parry People Mover railcar, which comes to and end on Sunday.
The regional transport body believes it has shown the way forward.
The Parry People Mover is described as a unique vehicle which combines flywheel technology and a gas-powered engine, making it cheap and clean to run.
The experimental service on the Stourbridge branch line has proved popular with passengers, as it restored a Sunday service for the town.
The lightweight railcars have proved reliable, with almost 99 per cent of services running on time.
Coun Keith Chambers, Centro-PTA lead member for rail, said: "The trial we have helped fund has shown how this new, locally-developed technology is able to provide a frequent, safe and reliable passenger service.
"When the new rail franchise takes over from Central Trains we think there is real scope for the heavy-rail service on the Stourbridge branch line to be replaced by a more frequent seven-day shuttle service, using lightweight railcars."
