In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Primary schools set to lead Metro birthday celebrations, anti-social behaviour campaign returns to Tyne & Wear Metro, new ‘tap on, tap off’ ticket launch in Nottingham, and extra trams for Edinburgh’s Terminal V festival.

UKTram

Identifying the tools light rail operators can use to further develop their ‘Just Culture’ proved the key focus of the latest UKTram Operations Group.

During a recent meeting in Manchester, representatives from networks across the UK and Ireland took part in a special best practice session on the concept of shared accountability.

Led by Dr Peter Hughes of Redcliff Solutions, it outlined how a just culture encourages organisations to be accountable for systems they have in place and to fairly respond to the behaviours of their employers. For the full story, click here.

In other light rail news:

West Midlands Metro  

Primary schools in the West Midlands are being invited to help lead celebrations marking an historic milestone in the history of the region’s popular tramway.

On Thursday, May 30, it will be exactly 25 years since they returned to the streets of Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and children from communities along the route will play a leading role in the landmark anniversary.

As part of West Midland Metro’s anniversary plans, local primary schools are being asked to submit designs for a special anniversary emblem that will feature prominently throughout the celebrations, including on the side of trams, and you can read more here.

NET

Travelling around the city by tram will soon be even easier thanks to the introduction of a new Nottingham Express Transit (NET) ‘Tap On, Tap Off’ Short Hop travel ticket.

Launched this week, the new streamlined travel option offers a more convenient way for passengers to travel around Nottingham for less.

They are now able to simply tap their bank card or contactless mobile payment device at the start of the journey and again at the end, for £1.50 journeys when travelling within one of NET’s nine short hop zones, and further details can be found here.

Edinburgh Trams 

When a fantastic line-up of acts takes to the stage at the Royal Highland Centre later this month, festival fans can be sure of convenient travel to and from Terminal V thanks to Edinburgh’s popular tram system.

During the unique techno festival, Edinburgh Trams will be running extra late-night services to ensure everyone can enjoy a safe journey home or back to their weekend accommodation.

In addition to trams from every seven minutes throughout the day, services will continue to run every 20 minutes until around half past midnight, and you can read more here.

South Yorkshire Supertram   

Supertram is now back under public control, and it is asking customers for their views to help shape its future. It is urging them to take a few minutes to complete the survey, and you can read the full story here.

Tyne & Wear Metro

An initiative targeting antisocial behaviour along the North Tyneside coast and on the Tyne and Wear Metro is set to return this summer.

Operation Coastwatch is a joint operation with North Tyneside Council working alongside Northumbria Police and Metro operator, Nexus, to tackle pockets of disorder along the borough’s award-winning coastline.

The operation runs from April to October. In previous years it has led to a significant decrease in anti-social behaviour in the North of Tyne coastal area, and you can find out more here.

LRSSB

A new agreement between the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) will see closer collaboration on research into new technologies and other mutually beneficial projects.

The recent signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation will also help tramways harmonise with relevant mainline rail practices.

Carl Williams, LRSSB Chief Executive, explained that the agreement has a clear focus on sharing best practice, and will help the LRSSB forge even closer relationships with colleagues in heavy rail. To read more, click 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.