Light Rail Round-up: Community Events, Safety Partnerships Heritage Highlights – 13 June 2025

In this week’s light rail round-up – Metrolink prepares for Parklife with travel tips and extended services, Nottingham Express Transit issues an urgent warning over tram-surfing, Edinburgh Trams highlights a packed festival schedule, Sam Fender fans urged to plan ahead, Supertram unveils a new community mural and VolkerRail joins forces with TfGM to help restore Heaton Park Tramway.

Blackpool North celebrates one year of tram stop success

Blackpool Transport is celebrating a major milestone as the North Station tram stop marks its first anniversary. Since opening on 12 June 2024, the new stop has recorded over 250,000 passenger journeys, cementing its role in the town’s regeneration plans.

Serving the £350 million Talbot Gateway development, the extension is now a vital link for commuters and tourists alike, connecting directly with national rail services and boosting local footfall. As summer begins, recent timetable enhancements are expected to drive even greater demand.

Capital events supported by Edinburgh Trams during June

A packed calendar of events is set to attract thousands of visitors across Edinburgh this month, with Edinburgh Trams providing convenient travel options to many of the city's key destinations.

Highlights include the Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh Pride, and the reopening of Filmhouse Edinburgh. Major venues such as the Usher Hall, Leith Theatre and Edinburgh Playhouse are also hosting high-profile performances throughout June.

With stops located near each site, the tram network continues to play a vital role in facilitating access to cultural and community events and entertainment throughout the city. KeolisAmey Docklands launches new innovation Portal for DLR

KeolisAmey Docklands has unveiled a new initiative to support continuous improvement and collaboration across the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). The newly launched DLR Innovation Portal provides a platform for staff, partners and suppliers to share ideas that could enhance safety, efficiency, passenger experience and sustainability across the network.

As operators and maintainers of the DLR, a key component of London’s transport network, KeolisAmey Docklands sees the portal as an opportunity to engage stakeholders and explore solutions both large and small. The portal is now live and accepting submissions via this link.

Metrolink supports festival travel as Parklife returns to Greater Manchester

Metrolink services will play a key role in helping thousands of festival-goers travel safely and efficiently to this year’s Parklife event, as Greater Manchester enters a busy summer season of concerts and sporting events.

Taking place on 14 and 15 June at Heaton Park, Parklife marks the start of an exciting calendar of large-scale events in the region. To support travel demand, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has introduced a dedicated Parklife travel pass, available via the Bee Network app, which covers trams, Bee Network buses and direct shuttle services to the festival site.

With up to 110,000 visitors expected across the weekend, customers are being encouraged to plan ahead. Trams will run every six minutes from Victoria to Heaton Park, with extended evening services and shuttle buses in operation from the city centre.

NET urges end to dangerous ‘tram surfing’ trend

Nottingham Express Transit has issued a stark warning to young people following a rise in dangerous ‘tram surfing’ incidents linked to a TikTok trend.

Shaun Kenneth, Service Delivery and Security Manager at NET, described the behaviour as “potentially fatal” and called on parents and guardians to intervene. NET is working closely with local schools and police to identify those involved, with all incidents logged and supported by high-quality CCTV. The operator is encouraging the public to continue reporting sightings via its help points or WhatsApp line. Colourful new mural transforms Supertram stop

A colourful new mural has transformed the Netherthorpe tram stop on the South Yorkshire Supertram network, celebrating the community’s connection to nature and travel and showcasing the creativity of local students and artists. 

The artwork celebrates community pride and public transport links, with Councillors Tom Hunt and Laura McClean praising Supertram’s role in amplifying local voices. Following overwhelmingly positive feedback, a second mural is set to be completed this summer as part of ongoing efforts to enhance Sheffield’s public spaces and boost safety and local pride. Concert crowds advised to plan ahead for Sam Fender at St. James’ Park

With Sam Fender set to play three major gigs at St. James’ Park on 12, 14 and 15 June, Nexus is urging concertgoers to plan their journeys and allow extra time. Metro services will be extremely busy, and Customer Service teams will be on hand to assist passengers across key city centre stations.

Attendees are encouraged to use Pop Pay As You Go for the cheapest fares, and up to three children under 11 can travel free per paying adult. Full travel guidance is available via the Nexus website.

Sam Fender tribute act wows concert goers on Metro

Speaking of Sam Fender, a former star of The Voice, has begun performing Sam Fender songs for thousands of Metro customers as they head to see the three-time Brit Award winner take to the stage.

Singer Nick Dixon is covering Fender’s most popular tracks at Monument Metro station as the fans travel into Newcastle to see the Sam Fender concerts at St James’ Park. 

Future talent on track at West Midlands Metro

West Midlands Metro recently welcomed over 40 aspiring apprentices to its depot for an engaging Apprentice Open Day. The event featured hands-on demonstrations and Q&A sessions with members of the engineering and operations team, offering attendees valuable insight into careers in light rail. The initiative forms part of Metro’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of transport professionals and promoting skills development across the sector. Those interested in future opportunities can still register their interest via the Metro website.

Transdev highlights progress on Dublin’s Light Rail network

Transdev, operator of Dublin’s Luas light rail system, continues to play a central role in delivering safe, reliable and customer-focused services, with over 54 million journeys recorded last year. The operator's recent LinkedIn post highlights its support for a low-carbon, future-ready transport network in the Irish capital. The team also recently joined sector leaders at the Transport Ireland 2025 conference to explore new opportunities in sustainable mobility and infrastructure delivery. LRSSB welcomes landmark funding with renewed focus on safety

Following the government’s announcement of £15.6 billion in public transport investment, the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) has pledged enhanced support for a growing sector. Chief Executive Carl Williams reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to safety as new systems and network extensions take shape across the UK.

Highlighting light rail’s track record as one of the safest transport modes, he said the LRSSB stands ready to guide projects through safe planning, design and delivery in this new era of opportunity.

Isle of Man Heritage Railways join Railway 200 celebrations

Image Source: Visit Isle of Man

Two heritage systems, the Manx Electric Railway and the Snaefell Mountain Tramway, are set to feature prominently in this year’s Railway 200 celebrations on the Isle of Man.

As part of the Manx Heritage Transport Festival (22–27 July 2025), the Manx Electric Railway will reintroduce Trailer No. 50 after nearly five decades out of service, while Snaefell marks 130 years of operation with a special behind-the-scenes track tour.

Both systems will play a key role in honouring 200 years of railway history and inspiring future generations to explore careers in rail. Source: Visit Isle of Man, June 2025.

UKTram Member News

VolkerRail and TfGM support Heritage Tramway restoration in Manchester

UKTram member VolkerRail has partnered with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to help bring Heaton Park Tramway a step closer to reopening, following vital infrastructure repairs.

VolkerRail renewed six sections of track, two at a road crossing, using materials donated by TfGM and also resurfaced the crossing with support from its supply chain. Further work to replace the substation is planned before final inspections are carried out.

BCIMO Raises £8,000 at Family Day celebrating 200 years of Rail

Over 550 people attended BCIMO’s first-ever Family Day, a landmark event marking the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. Hosted at the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre, the celebration welcomed local families, enthusiasts and industry professionals for a packed day of activities, including rides on the Coventry VLR vehicle, model railway exhibits, and STEM demonstrations.

The event raised more than £8,000 for five charities and featured the historic Tram 16, donated by UKTram, as part of its innovation showcase. Plans are already underway for future community events following the success.

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To be included in the next round-up or the Members News section of the UKTram website, please send your press releases, event updates and career opportunities to chelsea.branch@uktram.co.uk by Thursday 19th June, 12PM.