In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Edinburgh Trams on track for more awards, updated safety guidance in Nottingham, annual savings on fares in Manchester, Tyne & Wear Metro launches real-time map, and track renewal project in Croydon.
UKTram
Light rail leaders have pledged to step up a campaign for a change in the law that will allow young people to work as volunteers on heritage tramways and railways. Read more here.
Edinburgh Trams
The operator of Edinburgh’s record-breaking tram system has been shortlisted for two accolades at the city’s top awards ceremony.
Having received the NTA’s award for Tram Operator of the Year in 2024, it’s now aiming to impress judges in the ‘High Growth Business of the Year’ and ‘Director of the Year’ categories at next month’s Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Awards.
The first nomination recognises a series of milestones for our business, including the recording of more than 12 million customer journeys last year, and you can read the full story here.
NET
Nottingham Express Transit (NET) has shared updated safety advice targeted at Nottingham’s school students, as well as the wider general public, via three short videos highlighting the importance of staying vigilant when travelling on or around the trams.
This comes as part of its wider campaign, ‘Think Tram’, which has been rolled out across Nottinghamshire schools.
The three short films showcase a range of scenarios taking place in and around the tram network, including both cycling and walking, to demonstrate the importance of being tram-aware.
The films tie into NET’s wider safety mission, and you can read more here.
Manchester Metrolink
Travelling on Greater Manchester’s trams and buses is set to get even cheaper this March with a new annual ticket allowing customers unlimited travel for the equivalent of between £2.75 and £4.10 a day.
Building on the annual ticket for Bee Network buses, the new ticket will cover both bus and tram journeys. Passengers will also be able to spread the payments monthly or annually – at no extra cost – with the support of a Credit Union loan to unlock further savings.
Customers will save 15% when compared to buying 13 28-day tickets, with the overall price depending on the number of Metrolink zones chosen, and further details can be found here.
London Trams
Croydon tram passengers are due to face disruption next month as Transport for London (TfL) undertakes a major track renewal project.
From February 15 to 23, a section of track between Wellesley Road and East Croydon will be replaced, causing significant changes to tram services in the town centre and east of East Croydon.
Trams will not run between Reeves Corner and Sandilands, including the town centre loop, throughout the weekend, and services to Elmers End will also be halted.
A replacement bus service will be available to serve affected stops, and the full story, as reported by South London Press, can be found here.
Tyne & Wear Metro
A new digital Metro map which tracks the location of trains in real-time through the Pop App has been launched this week, transforming service information for thousands of customers.
The new technology marks a major upgrade to the Pop App, which Metro customers can use to access real-time updates at their fingertips using Apple and Android smartphones.
It comes in response to customer feedback and follows the launch of push notifications on the app last year, and you can read more here.
Heritage
A collection of 40 historic London County Council Tramway posters is to go on display next month at the London Archives, British Trams Online reports.
This will be a rare chance to see some of the designs which were seen across the LCC network in the 1920s and early 1930s, before the London Passenger Transport Board was created.
During the early part of the twentieth century, many transport undertakings across the UK publicised their services with impressively designed posters. Whilst the posters used by rail companies and across the London Underground network have become iconic in their own right, and you can find out more 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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