World Car-Free Day 2025 - Why Trams are Central to Urban Mobility

Every year on 22 September, World Car-Free Day encourages individuals, businesses, and of course drivers, to explore alternatives to private car use. It’s an opportunity to visualise cities where streets are cleaner, quieter, safer and greener, to imagine sustainable travel as a reality rather than an aspiration.

For UKTram and our members, the message is clear: light rail is one of the most effective tools we have to support modal shift. 

Why trams matter 

Reliable frequency and dedicated tracks make light rail systems a credible alternative to car journeys. Modern trams are fully electric and offer zero-emission travel, helping to tackle poor air quality while reducing congestion and freeing up road space for walking and cycling. 

Capacity is another decisive factor. A single tram can carry over 200 passengers, and with high service frequency this equates to around 4,000 people per direction per hour. To put this in context, that’s comparable to 50 fully laden double-decker buses or 2,500 cars. On the scale of an urban street, one lane could move up to 22,000 people per hour as a tramway, compared with just 1,500 by car. Source: UKTram Strategy

Data-driven choices  

Independent research shows the stark difference in emissions between cars and public transport. According to analysis by Visual Capitalist (sourced from Our World in Data, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and The International Council on Clean Transportation, 2022), average carbon emissions per passenger kilometre are estimated as follows: 

•  Walking / Cycling: 0 g 

• Trams: 28 g 

•  National rail: 35 g 

•  Buses: 96 g 

•  Cars (petrol/diesel): 170 g 

•  Short-haul flights: 246 g
  

Though it’s important to note that these figures are approximations rather than absolutes, as actual emissions depend on variables such as vehicle type, occupancy, fuel, route and weather. What they do show is that trams, along with rail and other mass transit options, offer a significant reduction in carbon emissions compared with private cars and motorbikes, making them a vital part of a sustainable, multi-modal transport mix. 

The appeal of light rail goes beyond numbers. Evidence shows people are more likely to switch from car to tram than to other public transport options. This is thanks to: 

• Accessibility: full level boarding across UK networks. 

• Punctuality: dedicated tracks allow trams to bypass road congestion. 

• Safety: urban tramways encourage lower traffic speeds and safer streets. 

• Economic impact: trams connect people and businesses, stimulating regeneration. 

• Permanence: tramways are long-lasting, providing certainty for planning and investment.
  

Source: Time for Trams - Campaign for Better Transport

Our message this World Car-Free Day , is that though car travel will remain important, but by giving people attractive alternatives, we can make city centres more liveable and reduce transport’s impact on health and the environment. 

So this World Car-Free Day, if you can’t walk or cycle, take the tram or another form of public transport and if you’re able, hop off a stop or two early and finish your journey on foot.