In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Trial allowing dogs on trams in Manchester, a family ticket offer in Nottingham, a tram ride for the Commonwealth Games baton, extra services in Edinburgh for festival launch and new stops for Seaton tramway.Just a few places remain available for light rail professionals planning to take part in a high-profile event that aims to highlight both the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector. Transport Minister Baroness Vere has already been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the Light Rail Summit in Manchester on September 15. Organised by UKTram, the free event will also feature presentations by James Wingerath, Commercial Director of Youth Employment UK, and Guillaume Chanussot, Managing Director of KeolisAmey Metrolink. To read more about the event, including information on how to book a place, click here.
In other light rail news:
Manchester Metrolink
Pet dogs are set to be allowed on board trams in Manchester for the first time as part of a three-month trial. The pooches will be allowed on Metrolink services for free although owners will need to follow rules on safety and cleanliness. As reported here, the move follows a manifesto pledge by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to make public transport as accessible as possible. Each passenger will be allowed to take up to two dogs on board, but they will be liable for their pet’s behaviour, keeping them off the seats and cleaning up any mess they make, Transport for Greater Manchester has said.
Edinburgh Trams
A spectacular fusion of Scottish and Australian culture is set to launch one of the world’s largest arts festivals, and Edinburgh’s award-winning tram operator is gearing up to make it as easy as possible to get to and from the venue. Trams already run from every seven minutes between Edinburgh Airport and St Andrew Square but, before and after MACRO at the BT Murrayfield Stadium on Friday, August 5, service frequency is being boosted to every three minutes. After the usual last tram at 11:30 pm, a special 20-minute service will then be in operation until 1:30 am to make sure festival goers can get back home or to their hotel after the free event which marks the start of the 75th Edinburgh International Festival. Click here to read more.
West Midlands Metro
As the hours counted down towards the eagerly awaited Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Birmingham, the Queen’s Baton Relay hitched a ride on board a West Midlands Metro tram as it passes through the Midlands. The last leg of the relay’s penultimate day saw the baton and its bearer carried on a special tram from Broad Street to Library, Centenary Square as the city prepared for the start of the games on Thursday July 28. On its journey the baton passed a number of local landmarks before arriving at the Alexander Stadium as part of the Opening Ceremony for the Games and you can read more here.
NET
Nottingham’s tram network has launched a Family Group Ticket for the school summer holidays, allowing a group of eight to travel for as little as £1 each per day. Until August 31 the offer will mean that two adults and up to six children can travel together on the entire network all day at a discounted rate of £8. Further information about the deal can be found here.
Blackpool Transport Football fans heading to the home games at Bloomfield Road this season can take a bus or tram to the ground for just £1.50 each way by purchasing a Tangerine Ticket. The ticket will be valid for supporters heading towards the game up to three hours before kick-off or up to two hours from the final whistle and is available from conductors on board trams. For further details, click here.
Tyne & Wear Metro Family days out this summer and beyond are more affordable than ever, with free travel for children all day, every day on Tyne and Wear Metro and the Shields Ferry. Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free when accompanied by a fare paying adult and more than 200,000 free Metro journeys have been enjoyed by youngsters since the price pledge was introduced in January 2020. Now operator Nexus is highlighting family activities easy to reach by Metro this summer. Metro teams have also been out and about at stations, talking to families enjoying the first day of the school holidays, and giving out activity packs and information on great family days out close to Metro. For the full story, click here.
Extension Projects
The largest concrete pour to date has taken place on the continuation of the Edinburgh Trams York Place to Newhaven project as the main contractors remain on schedule for the line to be in operation in spring 2023. The project is currently working in twelve separate sections across the route and the concrete pour took place on the bridge deck of Tower Bridge on Ocean Drive. Taking approximately eight hours to complete, the pour involved sixteen operatives from subcontractor Beattie’s FRC and approximately 130 cubic meters of concrete. Hard landscaping works over Tower Bridge will now commence, as well as further track works progressing eastwards towards Tower Place and you can read more here.
Heritage
East Devon Attraction, Seaton Tramway, has announced the opening of two new halts as well as introducing brand new interpretation to the 52-year-old tram line. Seaton Wetlands Halt and Riverside Halt will be officially open for passengers on Monday (August 1) and will bring the total number of stops from three to five along the three-mile line. Further information on the project, and a new interactive exhibit that explains how electricity is delivered to the line and the trams can be found here.
Light Rail SSB
Comprehensive fire safety guidance for tramways, metros and similar transit systems has been published by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board. Containing practical advice on how to minimise the risk of fires, the document also outlines the relevant legislation that operators need to follow, and best practice on dealing with incidents should they occur. The 50-page guide provides comprehensive details on the relevant legal requirements faced by operators and covers best practice on carrying out fire risk assessments while the management of links between networks and relevant emergency services are also covered. For the full story, 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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