In the first round up of news for 2022 – Winter timetable in Blackpool, season ticket price rise on NET, works affect services in Manchester and Dublin, Metro mural of famous faces celebrates 25 years and New Year message from LRSSB boss.
Welcome to the first issue of the Light Rail News roundup of 2022, and UKTram team would like to wish all members and colleagues from across the sector best wishes for the New Year.
2022 promises to be a significant year for light rail, with growing recognition of the vital role it has to play in the nation’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, and in meeting ambitious targets aimed at tackling climate change.
In fact it potentially marks a new era for the sector, and over the coming weeks UKTram will be providing details of a host of initiatives aimed at further supporting members, driving the expansion of light rail, exploring emerging technology and recruiting the next generation of sector professionals.
Of course, details of these ambitious plans will be included in our weekly roundups!
In other light rail news this week:
Blackpool Transport
Since 2nd January, a winter timetable has been introduced as Blackpool heads into the winter season, with the illuminations switched off until summer.
Trams will run up to every 15 minutes during the daytime and up to every 30 minutes in the evenings. This means the operator can run an accurate service to match the level of demand it sees at this time of year.
The first Fleetwood bound tram will leave Starr Gate at 05:00 and the first Starr Gate bound tram will Leave Fleetwood at 06:08. The last Fleetwood bound tram will leave Starr Gate at 23:15 with the last Starr Gate bound tram at 00:15 and you can find full details here.
NET
Nottingham’s tram network is to introduce a small increase to the season ticket products on the NETGO! App from Monday (10th January).
This change will bring all season ticket prices in line with each other, and adult and student one month and three month prices will rise by £5, six month tickets increase by £10 and annual tickets by £25. The full story can be found here.
Manchester Metrolink
TfGM have announced more details of improvement works taking place on the Metrolink network during January. On Sunday three Sundays (January 9, 16 and 30) no trams will operate through Victoria. In addition, Piccadilly will also be closed on January 16, which means the Ashton Line will not operate.
On Sunday, 23rd January the Altringham line will be completely closed, and further work is set to take place across the network in February. Full details can be found here.
Tyne & Wear Metro
A Metro mural featuring well known and much-loved personalities from our region is celebrating its 25th year.
The popular and colourful piece of artwork, Famous Faces, by former coal miner Bob Olley, has been proudly on displayed at Monument Metro station since 1996.
Fourteen of Tyneside’s most charismatic figures are seen looking out of the window of a Metro train carriage. Sponsored by Nexus, Metro’s operator, the former pitman-turned-artist and sculptor set about painting the caricatures of local personalities, shown looking out from the carriages of the train and you can read the full story here.
Luas
Essential engineering works are being carried out on the Luas Red and Green Lines over a period of three weekends in January 2022.
To facilitate these works, Luas Red and Green Line services will finish approximately one hour earlier than normal operating hours on Fridays, start an hour later and finish an hour earlier on the above Saturdays, and start an hour later and finish an hour earlier on Sundays.
For the exact dates of the works, and further information, click here.
LRSSB
In a New Year message, the Chief Executive of the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board has said progress in a number of key areas will see the organisation look forward to the year ahead with renewed confidence.
Carl Williams says that it we will be able to build on the excellent work done over the past 12 months to further strengthen the organisation, drawing on expertise from across the sector to take it to the next level.
Much has already been achieved, including the production of 16 safety guidance documents. These sit alongside the publication of an updated Tramways Principles and Guidance document, which is set for further revisions in the year ahead. You can read the full message here.
To be included in the next round-up, or the Members News section of the website, send your press releases to jamie.swift@uktram.org.
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