Light Rail Engineers Group meeting highlights shared learning and operational discussion in Edinburgh

UKTram Light Rail Engineers Group (LREG) members met in Edinburgh for a two-day meeting and Best Practice Day, hosted by Edinburgh Trams at Gogar Depot.

On the 21st and 22nd of May, the sessions provided an opportunity for engineers, operators and supply chain representatives from across the sector to share updates, discuss operational challenges and exchange best practice, both in person and online.

The event began with a tour of the Edinburgh Trams depot and a demonstration of the network’s driver simulator. Attendees then joined the latest LREG meeting, where discussions focused on engineering updates and operational challenges linked to reliability and component supply.

The meeting also included a UKTram update on current work across the organisation, as well as a discussion of the recent review of the overhead line equipment (OLE) course. Feedback on the course was positive, with discussions now underway to deliver a further session in August, subject to sector interest. 

Additional updates covered sector operations and showcased new products and suppliers, including a compact pocket defibrillator from St John Ambulance and an automated track gauge system from Abtus.

The meeting also included a review of the recent Supply Trade Exchange event, 'Trade and Trams', which received positive feedback from attendees across the sector. Discussions are now underway around hosting a further session later this year, following the strong engagement with the initiative.

Phill Terry, Lead Engineer at UKTram, said:

“The feedback around Trade and Trams has been positive, thank you as well to Lorraine George and Chelsea Branch for their support in helping get the programme up and running.”

The latest UKTram and LRSSB Light Rail Summit was also highlighted during the meeting, with tickets now officially on sale for the 2026 event.

The second day focused on lifts and escalators during the group’s latest Best Practice Day session. Members heard a presentation from Ben Brooks, Head of Engineering at Nexus Tyne and Wear Metro, exploring approaches to lift and escalator procurement, maintenance, reliability and renewal programmes across the network.

The workshop prompted discussion both in person and online, with attendees exchanging operational insight and experiences from across the sector.

Reflecting on the two days, Phill added:

“It was another positive and well-attended LREG meeting, both in person and online, and great to see a few new faces joining the discussions as well. he Best Practice Day session generated some great conversation and exchange of ideas following Ben Brooks’ presentation from Nexus. 

We run these sessions as they continue to highlight the value of sharing experiences and learning from different approaches across the sector. A big thank you as well to Edinburgh Trams for hosting the event and for their hospitality across the two days.”

Follow-up actions from the meeting include further requests for information (RFIs), part of UKTram’s member support service, which enables operators and industry partners to seek advice and access experience from across the wider light rail sector. As ever, the event also prompted further discussion and knowledge sharing between members following the meeting.