Summit sets the scene for UKTram’s future plans
Effective cyber security, reducing the risks posed by terrorists and the use of virtual reality to tackle anti-social behaviour have all been highlighted during a high-profile summit for light rail leaders.
While protecting networks from external threats proved a key theme of the event in Birmingham yesterday (September 19), the summit also provided the opportunity to celebrate successful initiatives to secure a sustainable future for light rail in the UK.
Delegates were also urged to help play a part in helping to shape the future of the sector’s representative body, UKTram, as it plans a strategy for 2025 and beyond.
In this week’s news from the light rail sector – Edinburgh drivers recognised for ‘Swiftie’ service, West Midlands Metro celebrates championship performance, records set on Tyne & Wear Metro, and a heritage award for ‘iconic’ new bridge.
UKTram
Effective cyber security, reducing the risks posed by terrorists and the use of virtual reality to tackle anti-social behaviour have all been highlighted during a high-profile summit for light rail leaders.
While protecting networks from external threats proved a key theme of the event in Birmingham yesterday (September 19), the summit also provided the opportunity to celebrate successful initiatives to secure a sustainable future for light rail in the UK.
Delegates were also urged to help play a part in helping to shape the future of the sector’s representative body, UKTram, as it plans a strategy for 2025 and beyond.
In other light rail news:
Edinburgh Trams
Driver Jade Holden and Ticketing Services Assistant Tony Wallace have been praised by colleagues for helping to entertain customers during what proved to be the busiest weekend on Edinburgh’s award-winning tramway.
While the entire team pulled out all the stops to ensure hundreds of thousands of ‘Swifties’ enjoyed hassle-free travel to a series of concerts at Murrayfield, the dynamic duo went the extra mile to get everyone into the spirit of the occasion.
Leading from the front, they donned pink cowboy hats and encouraged Taylor Swift fans to join in impromptu renditions of the star’s hits. Footage of Tony dancing to 'Shake it Off' even went viral, and you can find out more here.
West Midlands Metro
Two members of the West Midlands Metro team are celebrating this week after making an impressive debut at the prestigious European competition for tram drivers.
Outscoring fellow tram drivers from Edinburgh and Dublin, Jasbir Kaur and Dawid Osika were the highest-place competitors from the UK and Ireland at the European Tram Driver Championship in Frankfurt.
Over the weekend, they faced a variety of challenges, including testing of reactions by bringing trams to a precise emergency halt and where drivers must skilfully stop and start the tram whilst preserving the levels of fluids in an attached water bowl. To read more, click here.
Manchester Metrolink
People travelling in and around Greater Manchester this weekend are being urged to plan their journeys due to road closures and several major events taking place this weekend.
On Sunday, Manchester City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium at 4.30pm, while later that day singer Arijit Singh will take to the stage at Co-op Live, with doors opening at 5.30pm and the show scheduled to start at 7pm.
With fast and frequent trams – and free parking at a number of park and ride sites – football and music fans are being urged to use Metrolink, and you can find out more here.
DLR
Speed restrictions have been introduced on the automated Docklands Light Railway, after engineers discovered the trains were going too fast on some sections of track.
The BBC reports that speed limits were brought in after Transport for London (Tfl) engineers found there wasn't enough of a safety margin between the speed of the trains and the maximum recommended speed.
It was discovered during a review of the signalling system, and you can read more here.
Tyne & Wear Metro
A record number of people used public transport at this year’s Great North Run, with local services clocking up 146,000 customer journeys – a rise of almost 20% in two years.
This new record figure for Metro, bus and the Shields Ferry shows the success of the partnership between Nexus and bus companies to offer integrated travel.
This success is underpinned by the Great North Run Rover wristband and ticket launched in 2022, which is subsidised by the North East Combined Authority using funds from the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
This award-winning partnership with the Great Run Company shows the region working together to deliver a world-class and more sustainable event, and you can read more here.
Extension projects
Midland Metro Alliance and a key design partner, Tony Gee, are celebrating after their collaborative design and delivery of one of the final structures delivered for phase one of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, received a major accolade.
The much-loved “Hanson’s Ale” bridge in Tipton, which was installed across Birmingham New Road during the summer, scooped the Heritage prize at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) West Midland awards during a gala in Birmingham last night (19 September).
The ICE West Midlands judges were impressed by the bridge’s homage to the previous structure, and the full story can be found here.
Heritage
One of Seaton Tramway’s volunteer drivers, Matthew Streeton, can currently be heard in the new BBC One drama series, Nightsleeper.
British Trams Online reports here that Matthew is well known across the rail network in the UK after delivering automated platform announcements between London and Sussex.
As well as his railway work, Matthew has amassed quite a social media following with over 172,000 followers on TikTok under the handle @matt_thetrainguy.
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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