In this week’s news from the light rail sector –  Essential engineering works in Nottingham and Manchester, judging underway in Metro’s birthday competition, industrial action at London Tramlink and Luas announces bank holiday services.

UK Tram

Hosted by Nottingham City Council, the UKTram Owners and Operators Group has been given an in-depth insight into challenges faced by the city’s tramway and the steps it’s taking to meet them.

During their latest meeting, members of the group were given a tour of NET’s Wilkinson Street depot, including its control and incident management rooms.

Steve Duckering, UKTram Operations Manager, explained that every network has its own unique challenges, as well as facing issues that are common to all operators, and you can read the full story here.

In other light rail news:

West Midlands Metro  

Judging is underway to find an eye-catching emblem to help West Midlands Metro celebrate a landmark anniversary.

Metro invited youngsters from across the region to show off their artistic talents as the network approaches its 25th birthday on May 30, and it says the response has been fantastic.

As of Monday (April 29), when the competition ended, it had received more than 100 entries, making the selection of an overall winner challenging. The quality of submissions has also been superb, and you can read the full story here.

NET

The network will be conducting essential engineering and maintenance work to tram tracks this May, with customers encouraged to check affected routes before travelling.

Taking place on May 18 and 19, the work includes improvements to the tracks and infrastructure at NET’s David Lane stop, and forms part of a range of ongoing upgrades to enhance safety and reliability across the whole network.

During the two days, there will be no service between Phoenix Park and Wilkinson Street, as well as between Bulwell and Wilkinson Street, and further details can be found here.

Manchester Metrolink 

A major programme of coordinated works to maintain and improve the Metrolink system – ensuring tram journeys in Greater Manchester remain safe, reliable and accessible – continues this summer.

Metrolink is the country’s largest light rail network, with 99 stops across 64 miles of track, enabling more than 700 million journeys to be made since opening in 1992.

Over the next year, maintenance, renewal and ​improvement work will triple across the network, with almost £150m being ​invested to maintain and upgrade the network through to 2027, and full details can be found here.

London Tramlink   

Local media has reported that engineers vital to the running of Croydon Tramlink will go on strike over pay this month.

It says around 60 tram, stores and infrastructure engineers are angry and claim that their colleagues on the London Underground, who require the same qualifications and perform the same roles, are paid more.

The workers are set to strike from 8pm Sunday, May 5, until 6am on Thursday, May 9, and you can read the full story here.

Luas

On Bank Holiday Monday (May 6), Luas will run a Sunday timetable, with services beginning at 7.00 am on the Green and Red Lines.

It will run normal Saturday and Sunday operating hours and frequency on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, and further information can be found 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.