In this week’s news from the light rail sector – board appointments announced as UKTram looks to the future, Edinburgh Trams team shows off festive knitwear for charity, high levels of public support for Nottingham’s tram network, pop-up park and ride facilities in Manchester, and Sheffield Supertram and Luas publish Christmas timetables.
Two leading transport professionals have been appointed to the UKTram board as the organisation looks to enhance further its position as a driving force behind the growth of light rail. Nicola Small and Steve Mabey were elected as non-executive directors at the organisation’s annual general meeting this week. They will now support the wider UKTram team as it builds on many successes to date.
In other Light Rail News
Edinburgh Trams
Colleagues across the network, including drivers, ticketing services assistants and office staff, have celebrated Save The Children’s annual Festive Jumper Day this week by wrapping up in their most spectacular knitwear!
Save The Children has run the event for 12 years, and money raised goes to vulnerable youngsters worldwide, helping them access life-changing resources.
The operator says it is proud to be participating again this year by adding some festive fun to its usual uniforms, and you can read more by clicking here.
NET
Nottingham Express Transit (NET) has reported high levels of public support and satisfaction, with more than 90% of locals stating they would recommend the tram network to family and friends.
The results were revealed in a survey conducted by behavioural science experts Mindfield Research, which featured 1,200 respondents from across a range of Nottinghamshire postcodes.
Further findings revealed locals’ perceptions of NET have improved, with public trust increasing by four per cent and customers stating they were happy with the service provided, friendliness of staff and reliability.
Meanwhile, 82% of those who contacted NET customer services rated their experience as good, and you can read the full story here.
Manchester Metrolink
‘Pop-up’ Park and Ride sites will open this weekend, making it easier for people to drive into Manchester city centre and travel to big music and football events.
It is set to be the busiest weekend of the year with the Christmas Markets still in full swing, while Paul McCartney plays Co-op Live and Manchester City face Manchester United in a Premier League showdown at the Etihad.
Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground will be part of the initiative, with parking available for Metrolink customers on Sunday. People will need to show a valid Metrolink ticket to staff for onward travel to the city centre, Etihad or Co-op Live, and you can read more here.
Sheffield Supertram
Tram, bus and train passengers in South Yorkshire are reminded to check before travelling this Christmas and New Year. During the festive period, services will run to amended timetables, and in some cases, the last departures will be earlier than usual. There will be no bus, tram or train services on Christmas Day and limited bus and tram services on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. You can find more details here.
Tyne & Wear Metro
Pop cards will be accepted on the new Northumberland Line when it opens to the public on Sunday, December 15, offering a seamless interchange with the Tyne and Wear Metro alongside traditional rail-only tickets.
A new zonal map of the larger Pop card area shows stations at Seaton Delaval, Newsham, Blyth Bebside, Bedlington, and Ashington added onto the familiar Tyne and Wear Metro network, with the creation of a new ‘zone D’ for the most northerly of those.
Metro’s Pop Pay As You Go (PAYG) product will be usable at each of the Northumberland Line’s new stations, and Pop fares will be extended to those areas. Customers with pre-paid Metro season tickets loaded to a Pop card can also add a Northumberland Line season ticket to their card, and more details can be found here.
Luas
To help customers make the most of the Christmas season, Night Luas trams will run on the Red and Green Lines until the early morning hours on selected nights over Christmas and the New Year.
Services will run until the early hours of the morning on the Red and Green Lines on Friday, December 13, Saturday, December 14, Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21, with an 8 pm finish on Christmas Eve.
Night Luas will also run on Tuesday, 31 December, and further information is available here.
Heritage
The future of Blackpool’s heritage trams is safe, says the head of the resort’s transport operations after concerns led to a petition being set up.
Local media reports fears for the much-loved vintage vehicles were sparked after Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours released a statement last Friday saying the popular tours were being suspended.
Now, Blackpool Transport has issued a statement addressing the concerns, and you can read the full story 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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