Light rail and trams

Study of light rail finds Manchester Metrolink one of best in the world

19 July 2019An international study of light rail systems has identified Metrolink as one of the best in the world. The system was rated as fifth best in the large cities category, scoring 66 out of 100 based on ten separate criteria. These were tram corridor...

HS2 reveals design for driverless people mover in Birmingham

16 July 2019Designs for a new automated people mover in the West Midlands have been released by HS2. The driverless vehicle plans to be used to transport passenger between HS2’s new Interchange Station in Solihull and Birmingham Airport. Designs for a new aut...

TramForward calls for increased tram links to tackle non-exhaust emissions

12 July 2019TramForward has welcomed the Government’s call for action on non-exhaust emissions from tyres, brakes and road surfaces,  It follows a report published yesterday by the Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) calling for urgent action to addre...

Plans for Cardiff’s £1bn transport network unveiled

04 July 2019Cardiff City Council’s ambitious plans for a £1bn travel network in the city have been revealed today. The network proposes a new ‘Cardiff Cross Rail’, a new light rail and tram system running from east to west of the city...

TfGM announces contactless payments on Metrolink trams

04 July 2019Passengers will be able to ‘touch-in’ using their contactless cards on Manchester Metrolink trams from July 15, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) announced today. The introduction of the new payment option represents the first a...

Can grass tracks transform Britain’s train and tram routes?

03 July 2019Chris Haworth, partner and infrastructure lead at multidisciplinary property and construction consultancy Ridge and Partners LLP (Ridge), explains why the UK has been slow on the uptake of grass tracks and what benefits they could bring. Grass tr...

Local SMEs key for Midland Metro Alliance's head of procurement Paula Gray

28 June 2019Paula Gray, head of procurement, explains how the Midland Metro Alliance continues to establish partnerships with innovative local SMEs. The Midland Metro Alliance, working on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority, is expanding the tram...

TfL awards contract for new DLR fleet to replace 30-year-old trains

12 June 2019TfL has awarded a contract for 43 new trains to replace the oldest rolling stock on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), with the first scheduled to enter passenger service from 2023. CAF has been chosen to design, manufacture and supply the new st...

Out with the old: London Underground's track renewal works

04 June 2019Alistair McLaughlin, programme delivery manager for Balfour Beatty, and John Lambert, head of track programme for Transport for London (TfL), explore the intricacies of London Underground track renewal works as part of the new Integrated Track Tea...

Delivering Metro Plus in Cardiff

04 June 2019Cllr Huw David, chair of the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) Transport Authority, and leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, explains why the recently announced Metro Plus plans will deliver local benefits to counties within the region. Earlier...

Commission calls for £10bn transport investment in Glasgow rail schemes and city-wide metro network

30 April 2019A Glasgow City Council commission has called for a £10bn transport investment into rail schemes and a city-wide metro system. The report from the Glasgow Connectivity Commission puts forward a number of “bold, ambitious and transforma...

RAIB launches investigation after ‘vulnerable’ man fell on Metrolink tracks as tram departed

15 April 2019An investigation has been launched after a “vulnerable” passenger fell onto the track on the Manchester Metrolink after the tram he was leaning on pulled away, the RAIB has said. The man, described by the RAIB as “in a vulnerabl...

Renewable Welsh rail electrification project wins decarbonisation funding

12 April 2019Plans to use renewable energy sources to electrify Welsh train lines have won a grant from the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), one of six rail decarbonisation projects to have won the funding. The ‘Green Valley Lines’ scheme t...

Glasgow Airport’s tram-train link is ‘dead’ with shuttle pod system preferred

09 April 2019Plans for a direct tram-train link to Glasgow airport have been branded “dead” by the leader of the city council. Local politicians have been calling for a direct rail link between Glasgow city centre and its airport “as a matte...

Bristol’s MetroWest scheme receives final £32m funding from DfT

09 April 2019The DfT has announced its backing for the MetroWest railway line between Portishead and Bristol after confirming the final £32m funding for the “nationally-significant” project. The Portishead branch line shut in 1964, but is no...