Meet Tony Marsden – Vice Chair of the UKTram Light Rail Engineering Group (LREG)

With more than four decades of experience in the tramway sector, Tony Marsden has spent his career working at the heart of Blackpool’s historic and evolving tramway system. Tony began his journey as an apprentice fitter at just 16 years old and is now Engineering Manager at Blackpool Transport Services.

Tony began his career in September 1983 working on Blackpool’s rolling stock, at a time when the system was still operating what is now known as the heritage fleet. Over the years he has worked across a wide range of engineering roles, gaining hands-on experience in bogie overhauls, heavy repairs and day-to-day fleet maintenance. 

In this feature, we chat to Tony about career his journey, the value of collaboration between light rail systems and the engineering priorities facing the sector as networks continue to mature.

Q1: You began your career at Blackpool Transport as an apprentice. How did that early experience shape your path into tramway engineering? 

I started at Blackpool Transport as an apprentice fitter working on rolling stock in September 1983, aged 16. At the time we were operating what is now known as the heritage fleet, although back then we were the only year-round tram service in the UK.

I began my career working on bogie overhauls. We repaired and manufactured all the parts in-house, as we had fabricators, welders, machinists and blacksmiths within the team. Towards the end of my apprenticeship, I moved into heavy repairs where I was replacing axles, traction motors and carrying out other daily repairs to keep the service running. 

Q2. You’ve been Vice Chair of LREG since October 2022. How did you get involved and how has your operational experience shaped the way you approach collaboration across UK light rail networks?

I was first aware of UKTram and LREG in 2008 after I attended a 2-day course on wheel flange interface in partnership with Manchester University which was held at Metrolink's Queens Road depot. I began attending LREG in 2019 and then became vice chair in 2022.

My operational experience has played a crucial role in enhancing collaboration with other networks by providing a foundation for shared knowledge and processes. 

Q3:  What do you see as the most pressing technical challenges facing tram systems today? 

 One of the most pressing technical challenges facing our tram systems is integrating new technology with ageing infrastructure, most of the UK networks have now been operational between 15–34 years and we are all finding OEM parts are becoming obsolete which is both a challenge and an increase in cost. 

Q4: Since becoming Vice Chair of LREG, where have you seen the greatest value in structured collaboration between operators?   

Since becoming Vice Chair of LREG, I have seen first-hand the value of having structured dialogue between networks. The group provides a forum where we can openly discuss the issues we are experiencing at Blackpool, learn from challenges faced by other systems, and share practical solutions. 

Q4: What practical changes would you like to see across the sector to strengthen engineering consistency or improve project delivery? 

What would benefit the industry going forward would be a national standard of competency for the Technicians maintaining the rolling stock, OHL and permanent way. 

Q5: If you could introduce one engineering improvement across every UK tram system tomorrow, what would it be and why? 

Updating the batteries and capacitors on the trams so networks could have more catenary free OHL would be one engineering improvement, easier for extending tram networks, reducing costs and city centre aesthetics. 

As many UK light rail systems continue to mature, maintaining resilient infrastructure and sharing practical engineering knowledge across networks is becoming increasingly important. Through his role within Blackpool Transport services and the UKTram Light Rail Engineering Group (LREG), Tony continues to support collaboration between operators, helping engineering teams learn from each other and strengthen capability across the sector.