In light rail news this week – Metrolink services reduced, football ground shuttle bus connects to NET, multi day tickets for tourists in Edinburgh, discounted tram travel for Fleetwood fans plus new LRSSB board members announced. 

Tickets are selling fast for a landmark event for the nation’s light rail sector, and there are just days left to book discounted accommodation in the host city.

The Light Rail Summit, organised by UKTram and the LRSSB, will see professionals from across the sector meet at the Edinburgh Grosvenor Hotel on September 23 for the unveiling of a new vision for the future of the country’s tramways and metro systems.

UKTram has negotiated a special delegate rate of only £60 per night for a single room including breakfast or £72 per night for a double room (also including breakfast) at the venue, but they must be booked by Friday, August 20 by emailing EventsManager@edinburghgrosvenorhotel.co.uk.

Places are also limited for the summit so, as well as booking a room at the hotel by next Friday, anyone planning to take part is being urges to purchase their ticket as soon as possible from the UKTram online shop https://uktramshop.org.

For more information, click here. 

In other light rail news:

Manchester Metrolink

Due to coronavirus-related staff absences, and to ensure a more reliable and consistent service, a temporary reduced timetable was introduced by Metrolink on August 6.

Staff for the operator, KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM), are continuing to work extremely hard, in very challenging circumstances, to keep people moving. However, daily delays have occurred across the network due to Covid 19 and self-isolation.

The temporary change will see trams run every 12-minutes across the network, with all available vehicles used to provide as much capacity as possible and ‘double’ trams operating along the busiest lines.

Where possible, and subject to staff availability, additional services will run at the busiest times. It is expected that the reduced service will be in place throughout August, and the you can read more here.

NET

In Nottingham, the tram network has kicked off the football season with the return of a free shuttle bus between the tram network and the City Ground.

The popular match day service is once again running from the S4 bus stop outside Nottingham Station to Trent Bridge, a short walk from Nottingham Forest’s home ground.

The Event Link buses are run by a community bus company and run every ten minutes for two hours before kick-off and an hour after the final whistle. Anyone with a valid tram ticket or concession pass can use the service for free and you can read the full story here.

Edinburgh Trams

With the popularity of ‘staycations’ soaring, and ahead of Edinburgh’s Festivals, Edinburgh Ticket has launched new city fare zone multi day tickets.

The new tickets, available exclusively online at edinburghticket.com, will allow users to make unlimited tram journeys over three, four or five consecutive days anywhere between York Place in the city centre and Ingliston Park & Ride. Tickets start at £9 for adults, £5 for children or £20 for a family of up to two adults and three children and you can read more here.

Blackpool Transport

Football fans in Blackpool can take advantage of a travel offer for matches at Highbury Stadium. They can take the bus or tram to the ground and travel for £1.50 each way by using the Fleetwood Flyer and showing their Onward card as they board.

The ticket will be valid for supporters heading towards the game up to three hours before kick-off and up to two after the final whistle.

Fans using the tram can use the Stanley Road and Lindel Road stops, both just a short walk up Broomfield Road to the stadium. You can see the full story here.

Tyne & Wear Metro

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has submitted a bid to the Government’s Safer Streets fund, which includes measures to tackle crime on public transport networks.

Based on the findings of her recent survey, the commissioner has come together with local authority leaders and transport partners to draw up a range of solutions to address the fears and concerns shared by local people.

These include a new reporting app to transform the reporting process, body-worn cameras for transport staff and Help Points in parks linked directly to CCTV control rooms. To read more, click here.

LRSSB

Two senior figures from the light rail sector have been appointed to the board of the organisation responsible for strengthening safety standards across the UK’s tram and metro systems.

As non-executive directors representing operators, Clive Pennington and Colin Kerr bring a wealth of experience to the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board.

Both Colin and Clive were elected to the LRSSB board at a recent meeting, and the organisation’s Chief Executive, Carl Williams, said the appointments mark another significant step forward for the organisation.

You can read more about Clive and Colin, and their appointment, on the LRSSB website here.

A full roundup of recent LRSSB activities can be found in the latest issue of the organisation’s newsletter 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.