In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Safety campaign launched in the West Midlands, Edinburgh Trams welcomes visitors to the Highland Show, Praise for Edinburgh Trams from the LRSSB and the case for the extension of the Docklands Light Railway submitted. 

UKTram

An intense programme to assess the potential of proposed light rail projects has found that a number of schemes are in a ‘good place’ for future development.

The Government’s Restore Your Railway initiative has seen plans revisited and reviewed for practicality and economic impact, sector experts have heard.

Simon Coulthard, Head of Light Rail Knowledge & Development at Network Rail and a member of the Centre of Excellence, has provided regular updates and provided a significant interface between the Restore your Railway review team and the light rail sector, and you can read more here

In other light rail news:

West Midlands Metro

Simple tips for customers and pedestrians to help keep everyone safe around the region’s growing tram network have been launched.

Featuring eye-catching animated videos, produced by the LRSSB, the initiative highlights the risks of crossing tram tracks while wearing headphones, or standing too close to the edge of the platform at stops.

Anthony Stanley, West Midlands Metro’s Head of QHSE, said the videos and social assets offer a timely reminder of simple steps customers can take to avoid any mishaps and stay safe while using our network. To read more, click here.

Edinburgh Trams  

Edinburgh’s acclaimed tram system has lined up a range of great travel offers for visitors to one of the city’s most famous annual events.

During the Royal Highland Show this week, anyone planning a trip to the world-famous celebration of rural life in Scotland can save on travel costs when booking their event ticket.

By taking the tram, they can also avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot in the city centre as thousands of people flock towards the showground and further details can be found here.

Docklands Light Railway

A strategic outline case for an extension of the Docklands Light Railway under the River Thames to Thamesmead has been submitted to the government by Transport for London and other stakeholders.

The Railway Gazette reports Thamesmead & Beckton Riverside Public Transport Programme is based around a two-station extension of the DLR automated light metro from Gallions Reach to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead, plus a bus scheme using dedicated infrastructure from Woolwich to Abbey Wood via Thamesmead.

As reported here, this would support the development of up to 30 000 new homes to meet growing demand for housing in London.

Tyne & Wear Metro 

Colourful stained glass art works which have adorned a North Tyneside Metro station for 40 years are to be restored to their former glory.

The ‘Beach & Shipyards’ installation, which bookends the historic canopy at Monkseaton Metro station with iconic designs in stained glass, is to be painstakingly cleaned and repaired at Sunderland’s National Glass Centre.

And a former pupil of the artist who first created it will be undertaking the restoration work and Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, said the project formed part of a £400,000 scheme to refurbish the gable ends of the station canopy. For the full story, click here. 

LRSSB

The organisation responsible for driving light rail safety has praised the work of the Edinburgh Trams team following the successful launch of passenger services on a new route earlier this month.

The Light Rail Safety Standards Board has worked closely with the tramway operator to assess its readiness for the first trams to Newhaven.

It found that the operational team was well prepared for the launch, with all the relevant safety management system processes and risk assessments correctly reviewed, assessed and updated. Meanwhile, all employees and contractors received sufficient materials, knowledge and training before any new systems were handed over to them 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.