An awakening for Light Rail and the Core of Future Transport – Q&A with Lindsay Murphy Board Member at UKTram
As part of our Meet the UKTram Board series, we're introducing the key figures shaping the future of light rail in the UK. This time, we're speaking with Lindsay Murphy, a transport engineering specialist with over 30 years of experience.
Lindsay has been pivotal in delivering major transport projects including network extensions in Nottingham and asset management at Manchester Metrolink. As a UKTram Board Member since 2019, Lindsay brings extensive expertise in light rail strategy, infrastructure and technical innovation.
We sat down with Lindsay to discuss her journey, opportunities and challenges for light rail and what inspires her about the sector's future.
Q: With your experience in transport and infrastructure, what first drew you to the light rail sector?
Lindsay: I've worked in transport for about 30 years, starting with the City of Edinburgh Council in what was sort of a special projects team. Part of our work there was a large package of transport improvements. There were a few railway stations, some park-and-ride stations and a guided busway.
We always intended this could later be upgraded to light rail or a tram in the future. The idea was to build patronage with the busway before transitioning to trams. The day we opened the guided busway, the feedback was, "This would be even better as a tramway!" So, I then spent the next ten years helping to make that happen.
Q: What excites you most about the future of the sector?
Lindsay: There is an awakening that light rail is an important and sustainable means of providing genuine modal transfer from cars to public transport. And politically, we're in one of the most exciting times because we have cross-party support.
The agenda is very strongly behind the light rail and the fact that it's not just for big cities. Manchester has been a leader in this area, and many other cities are waking up to its potential. It's fantastic to have the support of figures like Tracy Brabin, and there's a real groundswell in Cambridge, for example.
People are realising that yes, light rail is key to reducing congestion and cutting emissions, but it’s also creating better urban environments. Light rail is being genuinely considered as an option because of the need for a hard spine and permanent core to anchor a transport system. Even when other modes are included, having this core provides something tangible for people to hold on to.
Q: What are the biggest opportunities for light rail in the coming years, and how can the sector adapt?
Lindsay: What I believe is really important and what I truly value about UKTram is the support we offer to transport authorities in their modal assessments. Light rail may not always be the right option for every town, city or region. But having UKTram, along with affiliated members, providing honest and practical advice makes all the difference in ensuring it is considered as one of the viable options. Receiving the right guidance is so important, particularly when many think they understand it but lack the practical expertise that UKTram can offer.
There's a resurgence of interest in light rail, especially with projects underway in cities like Leeds and Glasgow. So many cities are awakening to the opportunities light rail offers, and more than just in transportation but also in terms of development, land value and economic growth.
One of the big conversations UKTram has been having with the Department for Transport and other departments is about recognising the broader social and economic benefits that extend beyond the operational aspects of light rail itself. So it's not just about getting people out of their cars – it's about the opportunities created for people to access work, leisure and education. These social values are now much better understood, though the framework to capture them in traditional cost-benefit analysis has not existed before.
Q: In your experience, what role does partnership play in advancing light rail projects and how can stakeholders work together for innovation
Lindsay: I recently talked about partnership and integration at the UK Light Rail Conference.
Partnership is important because you're basically running through the middle of urban environments, which introduces numerous integration points. It is not just about the physical work, like digging up roads or moving utilities, but engaging with various stakeholders, like residents and planning departments and understanding the many logistical challenges that may come up.
Having these stakeholders on board means understanding the journey and how it will impact them fully. In this regard, Edinburgh's Phase 2 has been a real trailblazer. They've done a lot of excellent work in this area and have shown successful collaboration outcomes.
Q: How does light rail contribute to greener cities?
Lindsay: There’s some controversy around how light rail systems are priced, with many people often labelling them as vanity projects. And that’s simply not fair. The true opportunity of introducing a light rail system into a city is its potential for urban regeneration. Birmingham is a prime example of how light rail has driven much more than transportation. It’s completely reshaped the city centre. The development along the routes has opened up new opportunities for economic growth.
When you compare the "before" and "after" in some of these areas, you can see the benefits. So, the sustainability of light rail is far more than the fact that it’s electric and uses steel-on-steel tracks. Light rail's overall contribution to urban regeneration creates opportunities to build cycleways and safer routes, ensuring accessibility for passengers.
One of my favourite stories comes from my time at Nottingham Trams during a “Meet the Manager” session. We set up a tent at various tram stops so people could meet those running the tramway, and one woman in an electric wheelchair approached us. I always get emotional when I tell this story, but the lady recalled that before the tramway was built on one of the new lines, she lived just up the road from the only three or four small shops and needed help getting into the local corner shop.
Now, she can board the tram independently, travel into the centre of town, and get off on her own, allowing her to meet friends for lunch, get a coffee and get the tram home without assistance.
That's what light rail can do.
Q: What has your experience been like on the UKTram board since 2019?
Lindsay: I think we've been on a real journey. UKTram was created originally as an opportunity to share ideas between the UK's different tramways and light rail systems. And we were criticised for being a ''talking shop.'' But actually, that part is so important.
I’ve witnessed the professionalisation of the team, the support we provide to tramways and to the Department for Transport (DfT) by acting as a unified voice, which I think is a key component of UKTram’s success.
Being that conduit for collaboration has been really interesting for me, especially when working internationally, where there is nothing quite like UKTram. Often, international systems approach us, recognising that our collaboration here doesn't exist elsewhere.
Having a mix of private and public operators coming together to share best practices genuinely has been powerful for the industry. The drive to professionalise the sector and to push it forward has contributed to an incredibly exciting journey and is one of the things I'm most proud of.
Because of this centralised light rail body, we can coordinate efforts and advocate for better policy decisions. It's a strong, unified voice for the sector and I'm excited to see how we continue to grow.
Q: Women in transport: how has the industry evolved, and what more needs to be done?
Lindsay: Well, looking at the UKTram Board now compared to when I first joined. Almost 50% of our board members are female. There are a lot of industries that should look at that and be inspired.
The mentorship and support from male colleagues in the industry has been genderless, which is something to be truly proud of. Light rail is interesting because it offers many growth opportunities. Look at the Light Rail Engineers Group Chair, the Chair (and Renewals Manager at Edinburgh Trams), Marilena Papadopoulou, is a strong woman with a strong voice.
As I was learning about light rail and tramways, I had a number of wonderful mentors over the years who have shared their passion. There have been many strong female voices there for me. Sinead Scott, now Senior Operations Manager at CAF, and Michaela Keating, who was with Transdev and then North Star as a Consultancy before retiring. I learned so much from them. I’d like to mention Colin Robey here too, Chair of UKtram’s Centre fo Excellence, is a massive female advocate. And incredibly supportive.
I'm a great believer in equality, and I was in a situation once where somebody said, ‘’We should give the girls a chance!’’ over a male candidate who I felt had achieved more. I was furious. I would hate to think I got to where I am today because I am female rather than the best one for the job. I think that's what the light rail industry does. It holds you up and gives you the opportunities, it is up to you to take them. Many industries should look at those behaviours and learn from them.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of your professional roles?
Lindsay: I'm a keen cyclist and try to get out on my bike whenever possible. I also enjoy rugby - I'm a big supporter of Scotland's national team. People who know me well know I have a pair of 'occasionally lucky socks!'
I also like to paint…and crack a joke, it has to be said!
I started open-water swimming after attending an International Women’s Day event call-out years ago. What began as a small gathering has grown into a huge community event and attracts hundreds of swimmers at Portobello Beach every year.
Lindsay Murphy's experience and passion for light rail and urban sustainability make her an invaluable part of UKTram's leadership. With a career spanning major infrastructure projects and a deep commitment to driving innovation in the sector, she continues to champion the benefits of light rail for communities across the UK.