In this week’s Light Rail news – business as usual after Brexit, timetable changes on Sheffield Supertram, crackdown on antisocial behaviour on the Manchester Airport line, computer-generated fly-through gives a glimpse of Dudley Town centre after Metro is extended and LRSSB publishes guide to safety-critical markings.

UK Tram News

Sector leaders have reported ‘business as usual’ for UK light rail following the country’s exit from the EU and the end of the transition period on December 31.

Both UKTram and the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board say the sector has so far been largely unaffected by Brexit.

James Hammett, UKTram Managing Director says some operators have reported delays on parts deliveries, this has generally been attributed to the coronavirus pandemic rather than Brexit.

Meanwhile Carl Williams, LRSSB Chief Executive, reports that primary standards the sector work to sit outside the EU and you can read the full story here.

In other light rail news:

Sheffield Supertram

In response to reduced passenger numbers as people follow travel guidance, and also to ensure continued service reliability, timetable changes will be introduced from this Sunday (January 17).

Full timetable details are available on the Supertram website (www.supertram.com), but key changes include a 15 minute frequency throughout the daytime Monday to Saturday on Blue and Yellow routes, with a 20 minute frequency early morning and 30 minute frequency in the evening from around 7pm.

Tram-Train services will continue on the current 2 services per hour frequency and you can read the full story here.

Manchester Metrolink

Police and transport staff have taken swift action in response to a spate of youth-related antisocial behaviour incidents.

Greater Manchester Police’s Transport Unit, working with operators and TfGM as part of the region’s TravelSafe Partnership, is reviewing footage to identify those involved, and has increased patrols in the area at targeted times.

The action comes in response to 19 incidents – including intimidation of staff and passengers and criminal damage – reported at various locations on the Airport line during the week beginning Monday 28 December 2020 and you can read more on the TfGM website.

Extension Projects

A computer-generated fly-through released this week gives a glimpse into the future, showing how the much-anticipated Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension is set to look in Dudley town centre.

The footage, created by designers at Midland Metro Alliance, who are planning and constructing the route on behalf of Transport for West Midlands, shows West Midland Metro’s blue trams travelling in both directions along Flood Street transporting virtual passengers to Wolverhampton and Brierley Hill.

The short video shows how tram stops are likely to look and how the Metro route will interact with vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the Black Country town and you can read the full story, and find a link to the video, here.

LRSSB

A comprehensive guide to tramway signage and other safety-critical markings has been published by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board.

The latest in a series of light rail guidance documents, it draws on best practice from across the sector and previously published information.

Signage and other markings have a critical role to play in light rail safety and you can find out more about the new guidance document here.

To be included in the next round-up, or the Members News section of the website, send your press releases to jamie.swift@uktram.org.