Driving Progress: Updates and Innovation from UKTram, The Voice of Light Rail
The light rail sector continues to play a vital role in shaping sustainable, efficient urban mobility and UKTram has been working hard to support innovation and continuous improvement across the industry. We're pleased to share the news of strategic partnerships, working group outputs, new leadership appointments and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Here's what we've been up to in 2025 so far.
Strengthening cross-sector collaboration
One of the most exciting recent developments is UKTram's new strategic partnership with Rail Forum. Announced in April at both the organisation's flagship Parliamentary Reception and an event at the RaisE Business Centre in Goole, the partnership aims to bridge light and heavy rail through shared objectives, innovation, and joint advocacy.
"Collaboration between industry bodies like Rail Forum and UKTram is essential," said James Hammett, UKTram Managing Director. "By aligning our efforts, we provide even greater value to the wider transport industry."
The move builds on our ongoing commitment to pan-sector partnership. We also became corporate members of the Permanent Way Institution (PWI), with Managing Director James delivering a keynote at the PWI's technical seminar in Nottingham. Our membership reflects the growing engineering focus within light rail and a shared desire to raise standards across infrastructure and safety.
This summer also marks UKTram's third year as an ambassador member of Women in Transport, with our continued involvement aligning firmly with our organisational values and board diversity.
We were delighted to attend the 20th anniversary celebration in June, hosted at the iconic London Transport Museum.
Additionally, we’re pleased to announce our status as a Corporate Champion of Campaign for Better Transport, supporting their drive for light rail in the UK.
Insights an innovation from the front line
Our working groups continue to drive industry-wide learning and peer support. The most recent Light Rail Operators Committee (LROC) and Light Rail Engineering Group (LREG) meetings were held in Sheffield.
During LROC, key topics included patronage recovery, driver recruitment and the integration of modern technologies such as Overspeed Protection systems.
Meanwhile, LREG featured system updates from across the UK, partner contributions from the RAIB and LRSSB, along with technical presentations on energy storage and innovation in track infrastructure. The LREG Best Practice Day that followed focused on electrical safety in light rail environments, with evolving standards at the forefront of discussions.
These light rail working groups continue to provide structured forums for peer support and strategic alignment, enabling professionals across the light rail sector to share insights and drive operational and safety improvements.
Leadership appointments
UKTram is delighted to confirm the appointment of Chris Hopkinson, Head of Metro Operations at TfWM, as Chair of the Owners and Authorities Group. He is joined by Stuart Lowrie from the City of Edinburgh Council as Vice Chair.
Both bring extensive experience and a clear vision for the role of local authorities in shaping the future of light rail.
UKTram appointments
Knowledge sharing remains a cornerstone of our strategy. That's why we have appointed Dan Hill as Knowledge Manager. Having been part of the UKTram team since 2016, Dan now leads the development of our new Reference Library and RFI (Request for Information) archive, which is set to become a vital resource for professionals across the industry.
Also, now officially part of the team is Chelsea Branch, our Digital Marketing Manager. A long-time collaborator on UKTram's communications, Chelsea is expanding our digital reach, community and member engagement and online storytelling, helping to ensure sector progress is visible and accessible.
Tackling social issues through transport
Our involvement with the DfT's Rough Sleeping on Public Transport Forum continues. UKTram is promoting the StreetLink platform and the #BeTheLink campaign, which empowers staff and passengers to connect people sleeping rough with support services.
"Rough sleeping itself is not anti-social behaviour," explains Operations Manager Steve Duckering. "Platforms like StreetLink offer something meaningful people can do, helping to move away from the mindset of 'nothing we can do."
StreetLink will also feature at this year's Light Rail Summit in Birmingham, where speaker Saffron Gurden will share insights on how the sector can help tackle homelessness.
Technical standards and future skills
The UKTram Centre of Excellence (CoE) is advancing efforts to develop competent persons for safety validation and influencing international standards. Through ongoing collaboration with the LRSSB, the CoE continues to represent UK interests in standard-setting and system planning.
There's also a strong focus on skills and succession. A current pilot in the West Midlands, developed with the LRTA, is looking at new ways to engage apprentices and students in the light rail profession, including through the reintroduction of the Rising Star Award. The CoE has also launched a working group to examine the true cost of tramway construction. The group aims to strip projects back to essential delivery components by challenging the addition of high-cost 'urban realm' features, offering a clearer, value-led approach to project planning.
Looking ahead: Light Rail events in autumn
We are busy preparing for this years UKTram and LRSSB Light Rail Summit in September. After the reservation of places for key industry leaders were taken, the remaining spaces for this year’s summit saw an unprecedented response, reaching full capacity just three days after registration opened.
The event, taking place at IET: Austin Court in Birmingham this September, promises to be our biggest yet. The agenda will explore the future of light rail through the lenses of sustainability, integration, data and social value.
We'll be joined by a wide range of partners, speakers and exhibitors and will share further programme updates in the coming weeks. We also looking forward to joint delivering the Light Rail event on 5 November 2025 with the Rail Forum, which will explore current challenges and opportunities facing the sector and showcase progress across the UK.
Strategic collaborations have certainly marked the first part of the year, expanding knowledge sharing and integration and renewing our emphasis on inclusion and future-proofing our systems.
UKTram is proud to support the sector in shaping a smarter, safer, more connected future for light rail.