In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Award success for Edinburgh Trams, Nexus, and a long-serving Metro team member, a busy weekend ahead for Manchester Metrolink, and new guidance for worker safety is published by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board.
UKTram
A well-attended meeting of light rail engineers has helped showcase a range of innovative products designed to enhance asset management and safety.
Timed to coincide with a recent summit in Birmingham, the latest meeting of UKTram’s Light Rail Engineering Group also saw topical discussions on a range of challenges faced by colleagues across the sector.
In total, 39 engineers, representing networks, suppliers, and other organisations from across the UK, joined the meeting that also included an update on projects led by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board. To read more, click here.
In other light rail news:
Edinburgh Trams
The operator of Edinburgh’s acclaimed tram network is celebrating after bagging a hat-trick of prestigious industry awards.
At the National Transport Awards last week it was named UK Tram Operator of the Year, just 24-hours after securing the title of Most Improved System at the Global Light Rail Awards.
Both award ceremonies took place in London and saw Edinburgh Trams recognised for a record-breaking year that’s seen it double customer numbers since the launch of services to Newhaven in 2023. For the full story, click here.
West Midlands Metro
A long-serving member of the West Midlands Metro team has been presented with a prestigious industry accolade.
Technical Engineer, Gavin Lloyd, has been a member of the team for more than 18 years and plays a vital role in Metro operations, using his invaluable knowledge of the industry to manage numerous contracts with suppliers.
In 2015, Gavin was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, and devastatingly an estimated life expectancy of up to two and a half years. Now, nearly a decade later, Gavin has been recognised for his courage and contribution to the light rail sector in the Judges Special Award category at the Global Light Rail Awards, and you can read more here.
Manchester Metrolink
As thousands get ready to head out and enjoy the Manchester Half Marathon and Super League Final this weekend, Metrolink is urging people to plan their travel in advance.
In its biggest year yet, more than 24,000 runners are due to take part in the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday– which starts and ends by Old Trafford and takes in areas such as Chorlton, Sale, Stretford and Hulme – while thousands more are expected to turn out to cheer them on.
It’s part of a bumper sporting weekend with around 60,000 Rugby League fans expected to travel to Old Trafford on Saturday for the Super League Grand Final between Wigan Warriors and Hull KR, and you can find out more here.
Tyne & Wear Metro
A major project to replace a key track junction in the Metro tunnels below the centre of Newcastle has won a prestigious rail industry award.
The complex £3.4m renewal of Metro’s Prudhoe Street intersection scooped Project of the Year at the Global Light Rail Awards in London last week.
Nexus, the public body that runs Metro, won the award jointly with the contractor, Smart Trax Rail Ltd, and you can read the full story here.
LRSSB
New LRSSB guidance is set to drive down the risks associated with construction and maintenance work on UK tramways.
While the principle focus of the document is on the safety of workers carrying out infrastructure works, it applies equally to tramway employees dealing with rolling stock issues, for example, when assisting a stranded tram.
Craig O’Brien, LRSSB Head of Engineering Safety and Innovation at the LRSSB, explained the safety of people working on or close to tracks has been a top priority of the Office of Rail and Road, and the LRSSB has worked closely with the regulator on the development of this new guidance. For more on this 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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