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Light Rail news roundup 1st July 2022 Friday July 1, 2022

In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Crich Tramway Village to resume services, schoolchildren given special access to NET trams, Edinburgh Trams is shortlisted for awards and testing on Blackpool extension.

Light rail operators from across the UK, together with colleagues from Dublin, are joining forces to look at ways of tackling anti-social behaviour on their networks.

Members of the UKTram Operations Group have reported an increase in incidents since the lifting of Covid restrictions and have pledged to focus on the issue at their next meeting.

Steve Duckering, UKTram Operations Manager explained that light rail systems do not operate in isolation from the communities they serve, and anti-social behaviour appears to be growing problem for all transport operators.

He said members of the group are committed to sharing best practice on dealing with the problem and you can read more about the latest Operations Group meeting here.

In other light rail news:

NET

Children from Beeston Fields Primary and Nursery School were given special access to one of Nottingham’s NET trams to film a video that will be shown at the Flying High Trust Awards event at the Motorpoint Arena in July.

Tramlink Nottingham reserved a stationary Tram to be available at the Toton Lane stop, and for the children and members of their multi-academy trust team to film the video.

Tramlink is also one of the sponsors the massive event which will see 30 schools from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire come together for the glittering awards, with schools performing music and dance pieces on stage or in the audience and you can read more here.

Edinburgh Trams

Edinburgh’s acclaimed tram network is on track for the coveted Operator of the Year title after being shortlisted for a series of honours at the prestigious Scottish Transport Awards.

In total, Edinburgh Trams is among the frontrunners in five award categories after a series of successes over the past year.

The operator’s work on the development of a pioneering online ‘Authority to Work’ system is in the running for two awards, reaching the shortlist in the Most Effective in Road Safety, Traffic Management and Enforcement, and the Excellence in Technology and Innovation categories. For, the full story, click here.

Blackpool Transport 

Trams will run along the extended section of track along Talbot Road between North Pier & Blackpool North Tram Hub, as part of a week-long exercise to operationally test the track and signalling equipment.

This milestone is a progressive step in the delivery of the Talbot Gateway Phase 2 project which will house an integrated tram and train transport hub, a four star Holiday Inn hotel, Marco Pierre White’s New York Italian diner and new retail units in a bright, modern new underpass linking to Blackpool North train station.

Talbot Gateway is a £220m investment which will improve transport links for residents and visitors to the resort. Residents will enjoy a direct link to shops and leisure activities and commuters will benefit from quicker journeys to and from Blackpool North Train Station. Click here to read more.

Tyne & Wear Metro 

A busy Metro line serving Newcastle and North Tyneside is to close for two weeks next month for a major programme of modernisation works, including the complete renewal of an ageing Metro bridge.

Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, is putting in place a 14-day major line closure between St James and Tynemouth from 16 July to 29 July and full details can be found here.

Extension Projects 

Those living or working in the Sandwell and Dudley boroughs will see considerable progress on the highly-anticipated Metro route, which will connect them to Birmingham and Wolverhampton, with further works set to take place throughout the summer.

Construction along Castle Hill in Dudley town centre will reach a significant milestone on Monday 27 June 2022 when activity switches to the opposite side of the busy thoroughfare following completion of track laying.

The works are part of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, which is being designed and built by the Midland Metro Alliance on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and you can read more here.

Heritage 

One of the country’s best-loved transport museums is preparing to relaunch services with a little help from Nottingham’s modern tram network.

Engineers from NET operator Nottingham Trams Limited, stepped in to help when Crich Tramway Village was forced to suspend operations and shut down many of its attractions due to corrosion found on masts supporting overhead lines.

Now the vital infrastructure has been replaced with equipment donated by NET and the museum is all set to welcome back visitors ahead of the summer holidays.

Glenn Oakes, NET Infrastructure Manager, and Technical Manager Phil Terry played a key role in delivering the help to the heritage tramway which is due to relaunch services this weekend (July 2) and you can read the full story here.

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