In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Parking enforcement extended at tram park and ride sites in Nottingham, successful launch of West Midlands Metro extension, Manx Electric Railway celebrates anniversary and Manchester Metro restores peak service.
UKTram
UKTram’s mission to support the growth of light rail in the UK remains on track to deliver a major boost for the sector and the travelling public.
Working in partnership with key stakeholders, the organisation is arguing the case for further investment in tramways and similar transit systems, while looking at ways to remove the barriers to future expansion.
The organisation’s success in supporting the sector was highlighted at a high-profile summit in Birmingham this week that brought together senior figures from across light rail, and you can read more here.
In other light rail news:
NET
Following the success of campaigns to clamp down on the misuse of NET park and ride sites across Nottingham, enforcement patrols are now operating in Hucknall and Moor Bridge.
From Monday, September 18, anyone who parks outside marked bays or uses disabled spaces without a Blue Badge risks being clamped. Motorists who leave their vehicle without a valid NET ticket or pass will also face a release fee of £140, rising to £200 if their car needs to be removed from the site.
First introduced at The Forest Park and Ride last year, the action against motorists who break the rules has been widely welcomed by the vast majority of NET customers, and you can read more here.
Manchester Metrolink
Metrolink is to bring back the MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus peak service later this month. It will be reintroduced on Monday, September 25, following the completion of engineering works between Eccles and Weaste.
Trams will run every 12 minutes between 7am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am until 6.30pm on Saturdays, and the change means there will be a six-minute service at peak times between Harbour City and Etihad Campus.
It comes after passenger numbers showed demand between Etihad Campus and MediaCityUK had recently returned to pre-pandemic levels, and further details can be found here.
West Midlands Metro
Metro customers can now enjoy seamless connections between trams, trains and buses following the successful opening of new stops in Wolverhampton last weekend.
Connecting the existing network at The Royal to the main railway station at Wolverhampton Station, the network extension also serves Pipers Row for the bus station and is already proving a hit with local residents and visitors. For more on this story visit the Metro website here.
Edinburgh Trams
Following the successful launch of passenger services to Newhaven earlier this year, Edinburgh Trams is on track for top honours at another high-profile awards ceremony.
Building on its success at the Scottish Transport Awards, where it scooped the title of Operator of the Year, the acclaimed tramway has now been shortlisted for prestigious accolades at next month’s Global Light Rail Awards.
Held in London, the awards ceremony recognises excellence across the sector, and Edinburgh’s popular trams will be among systems from across the world competing across a range of different categories, as reported here.
Tyne & Wear Metro
A group of retired Metro drivers have taken a step back in time to relaunch their careers at Beamish Museum.
The trio – who drove trains on the Tyne and Wear Metro for over 30 years – have found a new lease of life playing the role of miners at the world-famous open-air museum in Country Durham.
They are starring at the Beamish colliery, providing visitors with an immersive experience of life down the pits in the early 1900s, and you can read the full story here.
Heritage
The Manx Electric Railway (or Douglas and Laxey Coast Electric Tramway as it was then) has been celebrating the 130th anniversary of its first public services between Derby Castle in Douglas and Groudle.
Over the years, the line was gradually extended north to Laxey and then on to Ramsey, and although there have been years of turmoil and threats over its very future it has remained running to reach the landmark anniversary.
Whilst the main events to celebrate took place during July, September 10 marked the Sunday closest to the actual anniversary, and you can read all about the occasion here at British Trams online here.
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