Confirmation of a further £37 million in support for tram networks in Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, the North East and the West Midlands has been welcomed by the light rail sector.
The latest tranche of government funding announced this week will ensure services continue to run and millions of passengers can get around as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.
UKTram says the continued funding will help networks to meet the changing needs of the communities they serve and the full story can be found here.
As the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, light rail networks from across the UK have also reported on the measures they’re taking to attract new staff.
A recent meeting for HR professionals organised by UKTram has heard that they were using an eye-catching wraps and other tram advertising and local radio to raise the profile of their recruitment campaigns and you can read more here.
In other light rail news:
Blackpool Transport
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the launch of a full tram service in Blackpool, the operator is looking back at the tramway’s amazing journey.
The system opened to the general public on April 4, 2012 after a local newspaper launched the ‘Save our trams’ campaign in a bid to source funding following the rejection of an initial bid by the government in 2004.
Two years later the government approved funding of £100m to upgrade the tramway and you can read more here.
Edinburgh Trams
The operator of Edinburgh’s award-winning tram system is launching a major recruitment campaign as it prepares for the launch of services to Newhaven in 2023.
An eye-catching tram ‘wrap’ will help to promote the campaign that’s initially targeting ambitious individuals with a passion for delivering the best possible customer service.
In addition to the tram wraps, the campaign is being supported with extensive advertising in local media, including on commercial radio, and asks potential employees: “How far can you go with Edinburgh Trams?”
For the full story, click here.
Manchester Metrolink
Planned engineering works are taking place on part of the Eccles Metrolink line which will see sections of the route partially closed until April 29.
This essential maintenance work is the latest in a series of planned track renewals and represents the second phase of activity on the Eccles line this year, with several further phases of work planned for later in summer 2022.
The work will see the replacement of worn rails in a number of locations between Eccles and MediaCity UK and full details can be found here.
Tyne & Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro’s Sunderland line is celebrating its 20th anniversary, having carried 138 million customer journeys since it first opened to the public two decades ago.
Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, said the line was a huge success story for Sunderland, and one which has provided a vital strategic link into the heart of the city.
The £100m line was opened on 31 March 2002. It was then officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in a ceremony at Park Lane Interchange on May 7 that same year and you can read more about its history here.
Extension Projects
A tram travelled along Broad Street for the first time this week as testing of the second phase of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension got underway.
Flanked by a team of engineers, the 3G tram made its way from the current Library terminus to the end of the new line at Edgbaston Village, marking the start of testing and commissioning of the newly laid track.
As reported here, Further trials will now see trams running across the route over the coming weeks in preparation for the much-anticipated launch of passenger services in June.
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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