UKTram Owners and Authorities Group opens the year with policy and performance

UKTram’s Owners and Authorities Group (OAG) held its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, 13^th January. The meeting was chaired by group Chair Chris Hopkinson and Vice Chair Stuart Lowrie and representatives from across the sector met online to align priorities and progress workstreams. 

Mainspring opened with a presentation showcasing the Rail Intel Portal and the breadth of material it contains to support evidence-based decision-making across the sector. This was followed by an update from the Urban Transport Group (UTG), outlining the proposed scope for a forthcoming Light Rail Policy document. UTG and UKTram confirmed their intention to collaborate closely on the development of the document as it progresses. 

UKTram shared initial findings from its Industry Key Performance Indicator (KPI) workstream, prompting discussion among networks on existing performance measures and challenges. Members provided updates on operational and strategic issues faced over the previous period, highlighting areas where greater collaboration could add value. 

A key focus of the meeting was the potential to develop a best practice paper on network KPIs, alongside exploring whether a set of headline industry KPIs could be agreed for wider publication. Members also discussed opportunities to improve alignment between UTG, UKTram and light rail stakeholders, including coordination of joint meetings and shared policy development. 

Chris Hopkins, Vice Chair of the Group reflected:  

“It was positive to have UTG join the group to share the work underway on the Light Rail Policy. The pandemic demonstrated just how much progress can be made when organisations work closely together, and six years on that collaborative approach between UKTram and UTG continues to deliver for the sector.” 

 The meeting concluded with agreement to circulate a proposed list of collaborative topics ahead of the next scheduled session later in the year, ensuring discussions remain focused on areas of shared benefit. 

The session was well attended, with active participation from UTG and strong engagement from network representatives. The next meeting of the Owners and Authorities Group is scheduled to take place on the 14th of April 2026.