In this week's news from the light rail sector - Record-breaking achievements for Edinburgh Trams, financial recovery for NET, exciting community engagement from West Midlands Metro and a must-watch podcast from the LRSSB.
Edinburgh Trams
Edinburgh’s multi-award-winning trams have enjoyed a record-breaking year, figures released this week reveal.
In 2024, operator Edinburgh Trams recorded more than 12 million customer journeys as the network continues to build on the successful launch of services to Newhaven in 2023.
Lea Harrison, Edinburgh Trams' Managing Director, explained that in 2024 the network saw a series of remarkable achievements, not least its busiest-ever day when more than 74,000 trips were taken onboard our trams. For the full story, click here.
NET
New financial figures have revealed that Nottingham Express Transit (NET) is showing signs of continued recovery, with increased customer journeys and reduced losses indicating ongoing improvements and stability across the network.
The figures were published by the operator of the NET concession, Tramlink Nottingham Limited, as part of the annual accounts for the year up to 31 March 2024.
They show that following last year’s successful financial restructuring project in partnership with the Department for Transport and Nottingham City Council, the network continues to trade in line with projected expectations, and further details can be found here.
West Midlands Metro
West Midlands Metro has announced it is supporting an exciting charity art project charging into Birmingham city centre this summer—Bulls in the City.
Metro will be one of the key sponsors of this brand-new art trail, which will support Birmingham Hospice, with a parade of larger-than-life sculptures inspired by the legendary Bullring Bull in Birmingham. The project will not only celebrate the city’s rich heritage but also showcase the incredible talent of local artists.
As part of Metro’s sponsorship, a bespoke bull designed by a local artist will be commissioned which reflects the network’s brand colours and identity, and you can read more here.
DLR
All four escalators at Cutty Sark DLR station will be replaced, Transport for London has said, after a passenger petition launched at Christmas reached 1,500 signatures.
The Greenwich Wire reports that passengers using the Docklands Light Railway to reach Greenwich town centre have faced disrupted journeys for at least four years with each of the escalators in the station failing.
The escalators are now out of service, with residents and visitors having to traipse up 121 steps to leave the station via emergency exits, and you can read the full story here.
Heritage
The Beamish Tramway is now closed for an extended period over the winter to allow infrastructure works to take place as well as maintenance on the fleet of trams which operate the service.
British Trams Online reports that not long after the last trams ran for a few months, workers moved in to start the track works at the east end of the 1900s Town, which also meant the buses in operation needed to take a diversionary route. You can read more on this story, and view pictures by Trevor Hall, here.
LRSSB
The first instalment of a special two-part podcast from the LRSSB is now available to watch or listen to, offering a fascinating insight into recent developments on tramways in Edinburgh and Blackpool.
Recorded in Blackpool, it features Jane Cole, Managing Director at Blackpool Transport and Colin Kerr, former Head of Safety and Projects at Edinburgh Trams who also talk about their extensive experience within the sector and the challenges they faced when planning for network extensions.
Both Jane and Colin are also LRSSB directors and share their views on the value of the organisation to the sector, and the support it has provided to them during these landmark projects. To read more, and to find a link to the podcast, click 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.
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