Recent rail strikes failed to prevent 35 light rail engineers and suppliers from getting together to discuss a range of topical issues.

The most recent meeting of UKTram’s Light Rail Engineering Group was taken online due to the difficulties members faced travelling to the planned venue, the Siemens rolling stock manufacturing site in Goole, East Yorkshire.

A planned ‘best-practice’ workshop that was planned at the site following the meeting has been rescheduled for November.

Phillip Terry, Lead Engineer at UK Tram, commented: “Despite not being able to meet in person, the meeting was very well attended online and provided the opportunity for members of the group to deliver updates from networks across the country.

“An important topic of conversation followed an update from the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board on the reporting of incidents so that lessons can be learned from them, and for sharing best practice.”

Led by LREG Chair Marilena Papadopoulou, Renewals Manager at Edinburgh Trams, the meeting also received an update from UKTram on planning for the annual Light Rail Summit, to be held in Birmingham in September. Although some speakers are still to be confirmed, the event has already sold out, and a reserve list established for those still hoping to attend.