New report strengthens case for light rail support

A new report highlighting how Britain’s light rail systems are instrumental in supporting economic growth, promoting social inclusion, and reducing carbon emissions has been welcomed by UKTram.

Produced by consultants Steer Group on behalf of the Urban Transport Group, it also argues that protecting light rail services and maintaining the urban connectivity they provide – with further Government support if necessary – is key to ensuring towns and cities can recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also calls for a stable policy and funding environment to boost the expansion of light rail into more towns and cities while encouraging the growth of existing networks.

James Hammett, Managing Director of UKTram, commented: “This powerful report adds further weight to arguments in favour of long-term support and investment in tramways and other similar urban transit systems.

“Its publication is also very timely, as UKTram prepares to submit a wide-ranging strategy for the future of light rail to government ministers and the Department for Transport.”

More details about the report from the Urban Transport Group, a network of city region transport authorities, can be found here, and the document itself, entitled Leading light: What light rail can do for city regions, can be downloaded in full here.