In this week's UK tram and light rail round-up: West Midlands Metro names Midlands Air Ambulance as Charity of the Year, Sheffield Supertram driver marks 30 years of service and Blackpool Transport freezes popular tram and bus tickets for third year running. Plus, Prime Minister and Welsh First Minister visit Transport for Wales depot, Heritage Tramway Committee highlights safety, skills and guidance priorities and Mainspring European Light Rail Congress 2026 programme confi

The recent UKTram Heritage Tramway Committee meeting reviewed progress across several priority workstreams supporting the safe and sustainable operation of heritage tramways. The meeting, held online on Tuesday, 27th January 2026, confirmed continued strong engagement from across the UK’s heritage tramway sector, with regular attendance from operators, the Isle of Man tramways and representation from ORR/HMRI. 

The Permanent Way Institution, a UKTram member organisation with an established corporate membership relationship with UKTram, has announced a formal change to its name. The update reflects the Institution’s evolving role within the rail engineering profession and its continued engagement across the wider transport sector.

On Tuesday 31st March, UKTram will bring together members of the Light Rail Engineering Group (LREG) and the supply trade for an online Trade & Trams session focused on shared learning, engineering insight and practical experience from across the light rail sector.

In the light rail round-up this week: Dublin Luas marks Valentine’s Day with Leap Card giveaway for customers, TravelSafe LiveChat milestone strengthens safety across Greater Manchester’s tram and transport network and South Wales tram-trains enter final testing phase ahead of spring introduction. Plus, West of England unveils new Transport Vision with mass transit ambition, Edinburgh Trams boosts services for Six Nations fixtures at Murrayfield and Heaton Park Tramway highl

National Apprenticeship Week, which runs every year in February, provides an important opportunity to reflect on the role apprenticeships continue to play in shaping the future of the lightrail and tramway sector. UKTram is proud to support the campaign running 9th-15th February 2026 by sharing stories and examples and opportunities from across the sector, with a particular focus on operator-led apprenticeship programmes.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, KeolisAmey Metrolink has been showcasing apprentices past and present across its LinkedIn channel, highlighting the breadth of roles and routes and available across the organisation.

In the first UK Tram and Light Rail round-up of February 2026: Edinburgh Trams confirms fare changes and prepares for Six Nations matchday travel, Blackpool Transport reflects on leadership and retirement and Tyne and Wear Metro secures approval for major fare reforms. Plus, procurement milestones for Dublin’s MetroLink, progress on the West Midlands Metro Dudley extension, continued investment in safety and innovation across UK networks, heritage anniversaries marked by Cric

UKTram has appointed Colin Robey as Honorary President in recognition of his exceptional and longstanding contributions to the organisation and the broader light rail sector. Colin has spent over sixty years working in heavy and light rail, including almost twenty years with UKTram. During this time, he has shaped strategy, development, governance and professional standards.

The UKTram Centre of Excellence met to review progress on several technical and strategic projects. The focus was on tramway design guidance and developing skills and apprenticeship pathways for the light rail sector. 

KeolisAmey Metrolink recently brought together colleagues from across the business for an Extended Leadership Team Day. The event provided an opportunity to connect, reflect and learn, with a strong focus on safety and wellbeing.

A leading figure in the transport sector has announced that she’s set to retire later this year after a successful career in trains, trams and buses. Jane Cole OBE joined Blackpool Transport as Managing Director in 2015, and under her leadership, it has enjoyed remarkable success over the past decade, including an impressive collection of industry awards

In the final light rail round-up of January 2026: Blackpool Transport takes tram safety messages into local schools, Transport for London sets out plans for tram fleet replacement and DLR extensions and West Yorkshire launches consultation on aligning Mass Transit with future development. Plus, international collaboration on major event readiness at DLR, funding secured to restart Heaton Park Tramway, student travel offers and service updates from NET, heritage investment and

UKTram has confirmed the appointment of new and returning Board members following its Annual General Meeting, held on Wednesday, 28th January 2026, as the organisation continues to strengthen leadership and long-term direction for the light rail sector. 

Young Rail Professionals West Midlands will host a Question Time–style panel discussion in February, exploring the role of politics, policy and regional decision-making in shaping the future of rail across the West Midlands. 

UKTram attended an online seminar on Coventry Very Light Rail on 22nd January 2026, delivered as part of a joint event hosted by the Institution of Civil Engineers West Midlands (Coventry and Warwickshire branch) and the Railway Civil Engineers Association. 

In this week’s UK and Ireland light rail news round-up: Keolis Nottingham to attend Nottingham Jobs Fair with tram roles available, Luas confirms St Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday service arrangements and Salford transport plans aim to improve tram integration and interchange. Plus, Tyne and Wear Metro line major renewal work, Colas Rail UK secures Light Rail contract awards as part Midland Metro Alliance and Edinburgh Trams highlights another record-breaking year in 2025.

The UK rail industry will come together at UK Rail on the 13th and 14th of May 2026, when the sector-wide event returns to NEC Birmingham. The two-day event will provide a national platform to bring together leaders from across rail projects, operators, rolling stock manufacturers, suppliers and innovators.

UKTram’s Owners and Authorities Group (OAG) held its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, 13th January. The meeting was chaired by group Chair Chris Hopkinson and Vice Chair Stuart Lowrie and representatives from across the sector met online to align priorities and progress workstreams. 

In this week’s light rail news round-up: Blackpool Transport extends its £10 Family Saver ticket following a surge in demand, Nottingham Express Transit confirms weekend works on the Clifton route and Edinburgh’s bus and tram networks record more than 130 million journeys in 2025. Plus, updates on mass transit plans in West Yorkshire and Coventry, workforce appointments and retirements across Supertram, Metro and NET, sector-wide skills development highlighted by LRSSB.