UK and Ireland Light Rail Round-up | Honours, upgrades and new year offers across light rail | Saturday 10th January 2026
- UKTram
- 9 hours ago
- 7 min read
A strong start to 2026 for light rail across the UK and Ireland and plenty to get on board with. In the light rail news round-up this week: Edinburgh Trams highlights January events across the city, Blackpool Transport Managing Director awarded OBE in New Year Honours and NET launches January annual ticket offer with major savings. Plus, Sheffield Supertram freezes fares and cuts long-distance singles for 2026, Young Tyne and Wear Metro fan brings new train to life and Heritage tramways announce events line-up for the year ahead.
Edinburgh Trams is encouraging passengers to kick off 2026 by travelling by tram to a packed programme of events taking place across the Scottish capital this January. From winter jazz and theatre to comedy and seasonal experiences, the city continues to offer plenty to enjoy beyond the festive period.
Customers can also save on travel by using the Edinburgh Trams app when heading into the city. A full round-up of January events is available on the Edinburgh Trams website.
Jane Cole, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport, and a non-executive director at the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours List for services to public transport and the local community.
Jane has led the town’s tram and bus operator since 2014, overseeing significant improvements to services for Fylde Coast residents and the millions of visitors Blackpool welcomes each year. With more than 35 years in the rail industry, she has also played a key role in shaping transport policy at local, regional and national level.
Nottingham Express Transit (NET) has launched a January offer giving tram users the chance to save more than £200 on an Adult Annual Ticket. Available throughout January, the offer reduces the price from £750 to £525, making unlimited tram travel equivalent to around £1.44 a day.
NET says the initiative aims to make tram travel more affordable and support customers amid ongoing cost pressures, while encouraging more people to choose the tram for everyday journeys.
Blackpool Tramway introduces temporary timetable for fleet maintenance >>
Blackpool Transport has introduced a temporarily reduced tram timetable from 7th January to enable essential fleet maintenance to be brought forward. Following routine inspections, urgent upgrades to suspension systems are being carried out to reduce the risk of future disruption and support long-term service reliability.
During the works, trams will run every 15 minutes between Fleetwood and Star Gate, with the planned winter maintenance timetable coming into effect from Sunday, 11th January.
Fares across the Sheffield Supertram network have been frozen from 1 January 2026, with a cut to the adult long-distance single fare from £3.40 to £3.00, aligning with the national bus fare cap.
Child concessionary single fares on buses and trams have also been frozen at £1 per journey for those with a valid Zoom travel pass. The measures aim to ease cost-of-living pressures, support families, and encourage more people to return to public transport, with further savings available through multi-day tickets and the TSY Mobile app.
Essential works to upgrade the lifts at Phibsborough Luas Stop will take place at different times in January, with one lift out of service at a time to maintain access.
The southbound Cabra Road lift will close from 19th until the 23rd January, followed by the northbound North Circular Road lift from 26th until the 30th. Trams will continue to run as normal, stairs will remain open, and customers are advised to use the alternative lift where required. Clear walking routes will be in place to support access during the works.
Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, has been awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List for his outstanding contribution to public transport. As Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester’s Executive Board, he has played a central role in shaping and delivering the Bee Network, bringing buses, trams and trains together into a more integrated system for the city region.
Mayor Andy Burnham praised Vernon’s leadership as instrumental in the biggest change to public transport outside London in decades, with further ambitions ahead as rail integration progresses in 2026.
A five-year-old from Gateshead has enjoyed a special Metro adventure after creating a detailed cardboard model of the Tyne and Wear Metro’s new Stadler train.
With help from his mum, James Whitfield carefully recreated the train’s design before taking it on a real Metro journey, where his enthusiasm caught the attention of Nexus staff. The experience was topped off with a chance to meet a Metro driver, inspiring the young fan who already dreams of driving trains one day.
KeolisAmey Metrolink is encouraging people at all stages of their careers to explore opportunities across the UK’s largest light rail network, with several roles currently open spanning people leadership, customer engagement and learning and development.
Vacancies include Head of People, Customer and Community Engagement Coordinators and a Learning & Development Training Specialist, reflecting a continued focus on workforce development, inclusion and customer experience across the network pasted
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has confirmed changes to Glasgow Subway fares from 5th January 2026, with increases applied to adult and child Smartcard fares while disposable ticket prices for adults remain unchanged. The revisions include modest rises across singles, daily fares and season tickets, alongside updates to Park and Ride charges.
SPT says all changes were approved by the Partnership Board and reflect a continued focus on balancing affordability with the ongoing operation and maintenance of the Subway network.
West Midlands Metro teamed up with organisers of the British Junior Open to support visitors travelling to the prestigious junior squash tournament, which took place across the region from the 2nd to the 6th of January 2026. With more than 700 young players from over 60 countries competing, ticket holders benefited from discounted Metro travel, making it easier to move between venues and explore Birmingham.
The partnership highlights the role of light rail in supporting major sporting events and promoting sustainable travel across the city.
PreMetro Operations has highlighted the role of local rail in supporting towns such as Stourbridge, calling for greater recognition of smaller, proven rail services as drivers of connectivity, regeneration and sustainability.
The article points to the success of the Stourbridge Shuttle as an example of reliable, affordable, turn-up-and-go rail that supports local economies and reduces road congestion.
Looking ahead, PreMetro argues that targeted investment in modernised local rail and very light rail solutions could help towns respond to changing travel patterns, deliver value quickly and strengthen links to the wider rail network as the sector evolves.
Heritage
Seaton Tramway has confirmed the return of its popular Tram Driving Lessons for 2026, offering half-day and full-day experiences throughout the year.
The hands-on courses give participants the chance to drive one of the heritage trams under real operating conditions, guided by experienced staff drivers. Each experience also includes a behind-the-scenes tour of Riverside Depot, a commemorative certificate and a souvenir to mark the day.
East Anglia Transport Museum has announced its events programme for 2026, featuring a varied calendar that celebrates transport heritage and offers family-friendly entertainment. Highlights include the return of Showtime Sundays in August, the Festival of Transport in September, celebrating old and new modes of travel, the popular Halloween-themed Frights at the Museum in October, and festive evening openings with Ride the Lights in December.
The newly published programme gives visitors an early look at what’s planned across the year, with events designed to attract enthusiasts, families and new audiences alike.
Key operating dates for the Isle of Man’s heritage railways have been confirmed for 2026, giving visitors and enthusiasts the chance to plan ahead. The Manx Electric Railway will begin its season on Tuesday, 17th March, with the Snaefell Mountain Railway reopening on Saturday, 28th March.
The calendar also includes the annual Transport Festival, taking place from Tuesday 28th July to Sunday 2nd August 2026, celebrating 150 years of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway and 50 years since the nationalisation of the Island’s bus network.
UKTram
This year, UKTram aims to deliver even greater value for its members while supporting the continued growth, performance and impact of light rail across the UK and Ireland.Â
2025 marked record attendance at Functional Group meetings and Best Practice Days, reinforcing UKTram’s role as a trusted convenor and collective voice for the sector. In 2026, this collaborative approach will be strengthened further.
UKTram is pleased to welcome Tim Bilby to the team as Stakeholder & Innovation Manager, strengthening our capacity to support innovation and engagement across the light rail sector.
In his new role at UKTram, Tim will lead stakeholder engagement activity, support collaboration between members and partners and help promote innovation that delivers practical benefits for the sector. The role also includes co-ordinating engagement events and best practice activity, strengthening links with statutory bodies and academia and representing UKTram at industry forums.
UKTram has been featured in the latest Rail Director article published by Rail Business Daily, with Managing Director James Hammett reflecting on a pivotal year for the UK light rail sector and the opportunities ahead.
It also explores how devolution, data-led planning and workforce development are shaping a more resilient and mature light rail landscape.
The next round-up will be published on Friday, 16th December, to be included in the 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