In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Manchester Metrolink, Edinburgh Trams and West Midlands Metro gear up for major events this weekend, work starts on the restoration of the historic canopy at Whitley Bay Metro station, and updates on the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension.
UKTram
Virtual reality is set to deliver a major boost for light rail safety with the launch of a new training tool for anyone working on or near tram tracks.
The Virtual Track Awareness software aims to build on the success of a similar hazard perception system employed during tram driver training and has been developed by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board in partnership with simulator specialists AVANSIM and UKTram.
The software can be run on almost any computer, providing a safe environment to raise awareness of potential risks faced by track workers, and you can read more here.
In other light rail news:
Manchester Metrolink
Parklife returns this weekend, with festivalgoers being encouraged to use public transport to get to the hugely popular event.
Tens of thousands of music fans will descend on Heaton Park on Saturday and Sunday to catch top acts including Becky Hill, Disclosure and Doja Cat.
Trams offer the best way to travel to Parklife, with services connecting directly to the city centre and providing easy access to all 99 stops across Greater Manchester, and further information can be found here.
West Midlands Metro
Pride ticketholders heading for Wolverhampton this weekend can enjoy discounted tram travel on the day as West Midlands Metro steps up its support for the local LGBTQ+ community.
When featured headliners like Denise Van Outen and Duncan James take to the stage on Old Market Square on Saturday, June 8, Pride ticketholders can enjoy a discount of 20 per cent on tram travel, which will also help them avoid the traffic.
To find out more, click here.
Edinburgh Trams
Edinburgh’s popular tramway offers great travel deals for Swifties heading to see their idol on her Eras Tour later this week.
Fans travelling to the Taylor Swift concerts this weekend are also being urged to purchase tram tickets in advance and you can read more here.
Tyne & Wear Metro
A £5.3m project to restore the historic canopy at Whitley Bay Metro station has entered an important phase, with works now underway to install the new glazing.
The Grade II listed structure, which dates back to the Edwardian era, is undergoing a major restoration programme that will see the glazing replaced and the metalwork fully restored to its former glory.
The process of installing thousands of panes of glass into the vast station canopy has now started, and you can read the full story here.
Luas
This year is the 50th Anniversary of Dublin Pride, and the city’s tram network will join the celebrations on Saturday, June 29.
The theme of this year’s events is “Shine”, and you can find more information here. Anyone heading for Pride events can plan their journey with Luas here.
Extension Projects
Local leaders have celebrated the upcoming installation of the final purpose-built structure required for phase one of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension as a first look at the iconic paint job the bridge will receive is revealed.
A short section of the Birmingham New Road was closed briefly in December 2023 to allow for the aged “Hanson’s Ale” bridge to be removed in preparation for a brand-new structure to be installed that meets the needs of a modern tramway.
The replacement structure will be installed in the same location across three consecutive weekends beginning on June 7, and you can read more 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.