Two organisations central to the development, safety and long‑term success of the UK’s light rail sector have secured a significant funding commitment from the Department for Transport (DfT).
The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) and UKTram have confirmed they will share £4.5 million in renewed government funding over the next three years, providing vital continuity for programmes that underpin tramway safety, standards and sector-wide collaboration.
The investment represents a clear endorsement of the work delivered by both organisations to date and offers greater certainty as the light rail industry continues to evolve as a key component of sustainable urban transport.
Welcoming the announcement, Carl Williams, Chief Executive of the LRSSB, said the funding would enable the organisation to build on major safety initiatives already in place.
“This continuation of funding from the DfT represents a huge vote of confidence in the work we’ve already done to enhance tramway safety standards. This includes the development of a sector-wide incident reporting system and advanced modelling as part of a wider risk management and mitigation framework.
“Moving forward, it will enable us to continue publishing new and updated safety guidance on all aspects of tramway design and operations, while delivering on a host of other innovative projects that embrace the latest technologies.”
The LRSSB has become the focal point for coordinated safety improvement across the UK’s tram and light rail networks, supporting operators, authorities and suppliers through shared intelligence, guidance and technical expertise.
UKTram, the industry’s representative body, will also benefit from the funding, strengthening its ability to support members and facilitate collaboration across the light rail community.
James Hammett, Managing Director of UKTram, said the funding recognises the growing importance of light rail in meeting wider transport and sustainability objectives.
“We are extremely grateful for this support from the DfT, and for its recognition of the light rail’s importance as a sustainable mode of urban transport, both now and in the future,” he said.
“This funding provides greater certainty as we continue to support members and the wider sector. It allows us to maintain momentum across our work and ensure we are responding to the needs of a growing and evolving industry.’’
“It also enables us to continue sharing insight across networks and facilitating collaboration through our functional groups and engagement with key stakeholders.”
Together, LRSSB and UKTram play a pivotal role in driving safety, innovation and best practice across the UK’s light rail systems, with the latest funding settlement ensuring both organisations can continue to support the sector at a time of increasing demand and technological change.
Image credits: iStock
