In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Landmark year ahead for the LRSSB, Metro support for culture in Wolverhampton, fun for DLR customers, exciting opportunities ahead of new Seaton attraction and new record for Tyne & Wear Metro.

UKTram

Body-worn cameras are making a significant contribution to enhancing security on UK tramways, sector professionals have reported.

Worn by front-line employees on a number of light rail networks, they are proving a valuable weapon in the fight against anti-social behaviour, and you can read more here.

Light rail professionals are also being urged to ‘save the date’ for a high-profile annual event that’s set to return to Birmingham later this year.

The next UKTram Light Rail Summit will take place on Thursday, September 19, 2024, and again make the most of the Institute of Engineering and Technology’s impressive conference facilities, and more information can be found here.

In other light rail news:

West Midlands Metro

As Wolverhampton looks forward to one of the highlights of its cultural calendar, West Midlands Metro is gearing up to aid thousands of people make the most of a packed programme of events.

The popular tram network is proudly sponsoring one of the main events at this year’s festival, ‘Enter,’ set to take place during the first weekend in February.

Organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council, with funding support from Arts Council England, the festival aims to celebrate the voices of authors, poets and storytellers, and you can read the full story here.

London Tramlink 

Transport for London confirmed this week that it is to replace the oldest trams in its fleet on the Croydon to Beckenham and Wimbledon network.

Local media reports that procurement will begin in 2024 and could cost at least £50million.

Inside Croydon reports here that Croydon’s original fleet of 24 Bomardier-built trams has already passed its expected service period.

Docklands Light Railway

It’s arguably the best seat in London: at the front of a DLR train, pretending to be the driver, reports The Standard newspaper.

Now Transport for London is looking to capitalise on the fun aspect of the driverless DLR trains by trialling ‘driving the train’ stickers – and potentially fitting cardboard steering wheels beside the front seats. For the full story, click here.

Tyne & Wear Metro 

Metro customers made a record 4.3 million journeys with Pop Pay As You Go in 2023, saving money on every trip compared to buying a paper ticket.

Customers who choose Pop PAYG on Google Pay via Android smartphones or as a smart card, don’t just save money but also save time by not having to use a ticket machine.

Metro trips have grown 13.5%  in the last year as thousands of people discover the value of Pop PAYG, alongside Metro’s Take The Kids For Free price promise and £1 single fare for those aged 21 and under. For the full story, click here.

Heritage  

Seaton Tramway is looking to recruit a Centre Manager and a Cafe and Soft Play Supervisor for its exciting new attraction, Jurassic Discovery, which is set to open in the spring of 2024.

Employed by Seaton Tramway Enterprises Ltd, the Jurassic Discovery Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the attraction and the management of all staff and volunteers, as well as being responsible for the health, safety and welfare of all customers and staff within the centre. Further details can be found here.

A report into the future of Isle of Man Railways (including the Steam Railway, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway), which was originally expected in September 2023, is nearly here, British Trams Online reports.

A summary report, which includes a number of recommendations, has already been published, and you can read the full story here.

LRSSB

Building on a series of successes over the past 12 months, the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board will continue to grow and evolve, and is on track to deliver even more support for the sector in 2024.

Already established as the driving force behind improvements to tramway safety, the organisation is now well set to lead a new era of risk reduction on networks across the UK.

In a New Year message to the sector, its Chief Executive, Carl Williams, said that plans are in place to further strengthen its expert team while forging new partnerships with key stakeholders, and you can read it in full 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.