Trade & Trams session highlights innovation and collaboration across the light rail sector

Connecting insight across the light rail supply chain

UKTram’s recent Trade & Trams session brought suppliers, engineers and operators together for a focused afternoon exploring innovation and technical practice across the light rail sector. 

The online session took place on the 31st March for UKTram Light Rail Engineering Group (LREG) members. 40 people joined to share and learn about new technologies and lessons learned from light rail systems. 

Presentations covered many engineering and operational topics, including how AI and predictive technologies can improve safety, how to optimise assets and manage their lifecycles, along with new ideas for making systems more sustainable and efficient. Speakers also shared updates on infrastructure development, overhead line systems, rail technologies and network performance improvements.

Videos shared during the session provided a visual look at how solutions work in real settings, helping show how technical ideas are used in daily operations.

The session also gave suppliers and infrastructure owners a chance to talk directly, encouraging open conversations and better understanding across the sector. Attendees have since provided feedback on the value of the wide range of topics presented and on the opportunity to share ideas.

“It was a good opportunity for trade members to showcase their services and products.”

“Exchange with others and insights into new technologies were particularly valuable.” 

“Having broad topics discussed, from products to solutions, kept the session engaging.”

Overall, feedback from the session has been very positive and reinforces the value of creating opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing across the light rail community. 

“Well presented explanations of some interesting technical solutions.”  

Reflecting on the session, LREG Chair Marilena Papadopoulou highlighted the value of bringing the supply chain into sharper focus: 

“The session gave us a great opportunity to see a range of supply trade products and solutions and we look forward to sharing these insights more widely across our teams through the circulated presentations.” 

The Trade & Trams session is part of UKTram’s ongoing effort to support best practice and help share expertise that keeps light rail systems efficient and ready for the future. Presentation materials will be shared with UKTram members on the UKTram Member hub in due course, so more organisations can benefit from these insights. We are continuing to gather feedback from participants and will use this to help shape the next Trade & Trams session.