UKTram Managing Director James Hammett joined light rail professionals from across the world at the 2026 Urban Tram Forum (UTF) Annual Meeting, held in Brussels, Belgium, on 1st and 2nd October.

Organisations and individuals from across the light rail sector were recognised for their achievements at the Global Light Rail Awards on Wednesday 7th October, with UKTram members featuring prominently among this year's winners and highly commended entries.

After this month’s UKTram and LRSSB Summit, the UKTram team kept up the pace, staying busy with industry events across the UK and Europe throughout September.

This week, light rail professionals from across the UK and Ireland came to Birmingham for the annual UKTram and Light Rail Safety & Standards Board (LRSSB) Summit. The eighth Summit, which took place at Austin Court in Birmingham on Wednesday, 16th September, focused on the theme Smarter Systems, Stronger Networks, with speakers looking at the opportunities driving the sector forward.

This week UKTram attended an international webinar in which the Turku Tramway in Finland and a new method of evaluating its environmental impact were discussed. From vote to tracks – the webinar on the development of Turku’s Tramway, was held online on 7th September and provided an insightful update on the project.

With less than a week to go, final preparations are underway for the UKTram and LRSSB 2026 Summit, as the light rail sector prepares to meet in Birmingham for a packed day of insight and networking. Taking place on Wednesday, September 16th at IET Birmingham: Austin Court, this year’s sold-out Summit will explore the theme Smarter Systems, Stronger Networks, with speakers from across light rail, transport, academia, safety and innovation.

Tram drivers from London Trams and Edinburgh Trams will represent the UK at the 12th European Tramdriver Championship, which takes place in Warsaw later this month. The championship will be held on Saturday, September 19th, with 26 teams from cities across Europe and beyond competing on the newly modernised Marszałkowska Street, in front of Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Scienc

The light rail and transport sector can expect a busy September, featuring a full schedule of events that provide opportunities to share knowledge and innovation and talk about the key priorities influencing the future of the industry.

In the UK and Ireland tram and light rail round-up this week: Nottingham trams feature in Channel 5 documentary, KeolisAmey Luas confirms its senior leadership ahead of taking over Dublin’s network, while Supertram renewal work continues. Glasgow Subway prepares for further modernisation closures and additional tram services support major summer events in Edinburgh and Manchester. Plus, stakeholders explore the proposed Dudley Dasher and Nexus introduces a new approach to man

The shortlist for the 2026 Global Light Rail Awards has been revealed, recognising the people, projects and organisations making an impact across the international light rail sector – with UKTram among those shortlisted.

The story of the modern British tramcar will take centre stage at the National Tramway Museum next month, as transport expert David Leeder delivers the Annual Geoffrey Claydon Memorial Lecture. Taking place on Friday, 11th September, The Modern British Tramcar Journey – From revival to revolution will explore the return and development of modern tram and light rail systems following a 50-year gap in new systems across Britain.

Manx Heritage Transport Festival celebrates the people keeping transport history alive The Isle of Man's transport heritage received significant attention this summer, highlighted by a successful Manx Heritage Transport Festival and a month of celebrations across the Island's historic networks.

The UKTram & Light Rail Safety & Standards Board (LRSSB) Summit 2026 has officially sold out, with delegates from across the light rail sector set to gather in Birmingham for another year. Taking place on Wednesday, 16th September at IET Birmingham: Austin Court, this year's Summit is centred around the theme 'Smarter Systems, Stronger Networks', exploring how collaboration and shared learning continue to shape the sector’s journey.

UKTram encourages members and partners to participate in Time for Trams 2026, a national event focused on accelerating light rail and mass transit delivery across the UK. Organised by Landor LINKS and Tram Network, the event will be held on Thursday, 24 September 2026 at the Coventry Technology Centre, following the Department for Transport's Better Connected: Integrated Transport Strategy.

UKTram attended the latest RailEI Technical Board meeting on 8th July, joining fellow corporate members to discuss engineering developments, professional standards and the future of skills across the rail industry.

Update – July 2026: Following a change in training availability, the proposed dates for UKTram's upcoming Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) Training Course have been updated. The course is now expected to take place on 7–9 September 2026 at Skill Step Training, Doncaster, subject to sufficient delegate interest.

UKTram will be attending the Leadership in Passenger Transport Awards (LiPTA) this week, celebrating the people whose leadership, expertise and commitment continue to strengthen passenger transport across the UK.

In this week's UK and Ireland Tram and Light Rail Round-up: Major Manchester Metrolink upgrade programme gets under way, KeolisAmey Docklands recognises customer service excellence, TII acquires key Dublin city centre site for MetroLink and NET Nottingham Trams to carry out summer track improvements. Plus, SPT publishes annual report, Tyne and Wear Metro station exhibition marks General Strike centenary, London extends bus and tram fare freeze and Coventry Very Light Rail pla

Over 350 delegates from the UK and Ireland attended the UK Light Rail Conference in Nottingham last week, marking its 20th anniversary and reflecting on two decades of progress while planning. Held under the theme 'Past. Present. Future.', this year's conference demonstrated a sector full of optimism and momentum.

UKTram joined policymakers, transport authorities, and industry leaders at the Better Transport Conference 2026 to discuss improving connections between people, places, and opportunities. Held at London South Bank University on Friday, the 19th June, the conference concluded Better Transport Week 2026, a national programme by Campaign for Better Transport promoting safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport across England and Wales.