UK and Ireland Tram and Light Rail News | Expansion plans and community connections | 4th September 2026
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
In the UK and Ireland tram and light rail news round-up this week: proposed routes and station locations are unveiled for the Metro extension to Washington, Nottingham completes its latest track renewal project and KeolisAmey Luas begins operating Dublin network. Operators place communities at the forefront of their work through a new Edinburgh charity partnership, passenger storytelling campaigns and support for Manchester Pride. Plus, Glasgow Subway prepares to celebrate 130 years, and heritage highlights include Stockport’s tramway history and the forthcoming launch of Blackpool 645 as an accessible tram.
A specially wrapped tram and bus carried the message ‘Love Connects Everyone’ across Manchester during the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The campaign formed part of the city’s Pride celebrations, which ran between 28th and 31st August with live performances and events across the city centre. The colourful vehicles helped extend the message across the transport network as thousands of people travelled to take part in the festivities and annual Pride parade.
KeolisAmey Metrolink teams supported Manchester Pride across the August Bank Holiday weekend, helping to deliver a safe service as events and the annual parade attracted visitors to the city centre.
A specially wrapped tram and bus carried the message ‘Love Connects Everyone’ across Manchester throughout the celebrations. KAM thanked colleagues working on the network and behind the scenes for supporting passengers during the busy weekend despite challenging weather.
Additional security staff and new hoarding have been introduced at Connolly Luas stop to improve the passenger experience. The hoarding restricts access to isolated areas while providing clearer wayfinding around the interchange.
Featuring archive photographs supplied by Iarnród Éireann and the CIÉ archive, the installation also reflects the history of public transport at Connolly Station. Longer-term designs for the redevelopment of the Luas stop are now being developed.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has launched ‘130 Voices’ as part of celebrations marking 130 years of the Glasgow Subway. The social media series will share memories and experiences that reflect the network’s role in city life.
People are invited to describe how the Subway has supported their work, journeys or memorable moments. Contributions can be shared through SPT’s social media channels or sent to communications@spt.co.uk for possible inclusion in the anniversary series.
Nexus has published the proposed route and station locations for the planned 13km Metro extension to Washington. The line would serve new stations at Follingsby, Washington North and Washington South before connecting with the existing network at South Hylton.
Fourteen public engagement events are now under way, with feedback also accepted online. An outline business case is due to be submitted to the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority in early 2027. Subject to approval, construction could begin in 2030, with passenger services starting in 2033.
West Midlands Metro is inviting passengers to share memories and personal stories connected with the tram network through a new community initiative.
‘Metro Moments’ will feature experiences such as relationships that began on board, memorable family journeys and the role tram travel has played in customers’ working lives. The first stories will be published online during September, with further contributions shared over the coming months.
KeolisAmey Luas officially assumed responsibility for operating and maintaining Dublin’s light rail network on 1st September. The contract is being delivered on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority following several months of transition planning with employees and the outgoing operator.
The joint venture will build on Luas’s existing performance while introducing service and maintenance improvements during the opening years of the contract. Planned initiatives include remote monitoring technology and measures intended to strengthen reliability, resilience and the passenger experience.
Track renewal work at Wilkinson Street and Noel Street was completed during August, replacing worn sections of rail and crossings on the Nottingham tram network.
The project also included improvements to the foundations beneath the track and local drainage. Delivered following several weeks of planning, the work will support the continued safety, reliability and resilience of tram services for passengers across Nottingham.
Blackpool Transport will operate a split tram service during the Illuminations switch-on on Friday 4th September, when tens of thousands of visitors are expected along the seafront.
From 11.30 am, trams will run separately between North Station and Fleetwood, and Manchester Square and Starr Gate. Bus diversions will also be introduced across the centre.
Further diversions may be required on busy Friday and Saturday evenings during the Illuminations, with passengers advised to check the latest travel information.
Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses are inviting applications for their next joint Charity of Choice, following the integration of bus and tram operations in the city.
The selected organisation will receive fundraising and awareness support during 2027 and 2028, involving colleagues and passengers across both networks. Charities of all sizes can apply online, with the first stage closing on Friday 18th September.
Engineers investigating a track problem at Birley Lane have identified what appears to be a historic well or mine shaft beneath the Supertram line. Detailed surveys are being carried out with the Mining Remediation Authority to understand the structure and determine an appropriate long-term repair.
The discovery has made the work more complex, and no date has yet been confirmed for services to resume. Blue Route trams are terminating at Herdings Park, with replacement buses operating between Gleadless Townend and Halfway.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority is inviting further responses to the final draft of its Mass Transit Spatial Development Framework before the consultation closes on Sunday 27th September.
Feedback is focused on the legal and technical soundness of the framework, which will guide how future transport investment supports sustainable growth rather than determine routes or infrastructure locations. A public webinar on Wednesday 9th September at 12.30 pm will offer an overview of the proposals and a live Q&A with members of the Mass Transit programme team.
Heritage Highlights
The National Tramway Museum is preparing to launch Blackpool Centenary car 645 as its new Access Tram on Saturday 12th September, following an extensive conversion by the Conservation Workshop team.
The tram now includes a wheelchair lift and three secure wheelchair spaces, alongside accessible driver’s cabs designed to enable supervised driving by a wheelchair user. Structural repairs and a bogie overhaul have also been carried out. The vehicle successfully undertook track testing at Crich in August.
Heaton Park Tramway welcomed visitors for a celebration of Stockport’s electric tramways and heritage transport. The last surviving Stockport tramcar, No. 5, was displayed alongside historic buses, archive material and working model tramcars.
With heritage trams currently unable to operate, visitors were shown how the vehicles are driven, while vintage buses followed former tram routes. Work on the replacement electrical substation is progressing, and a date for tram services to restart is not yet confirmed.
Seaton Tramway has launched its autumn timetable, with trams running every 20 minutes on weekdays throughout September and daily during October. Weekend services in September will operate at the same frequency until 5 pm.
The seasonal programme includes tram-driving lessons until 1st November and Birdwatching Tram journeys during September and October. A Model Tram Exhibition will also take place on 19th and 20th September.
More than 4,000 people visited the East Anglia Transport Museum during the six-week summer holiday period, experiencing its historic trams, trolleybuses and East Suffolk Light Railway.
The programme included regular operating days and the museum’s new Showtime Sundays, attracting families, enthusiasts and first-time visitors. Run entirely by volunteers, the museum relies on its team to operate and maintain the vehicle collection while supporting events and visitor attractions. Further activities are planned during the remainder of 2026.
UKTram and LRSSB updates: September puts light rail in the spotlight with a packed programme of industry events >>
The light rail and transport sector can expect a busy September, with a full schedule of events that offer opportunities to share knowledge and innovation and discuss the key priorities shaping the industry's future.
The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board has been shortlisted in four categories at the 2026 Global Light Rail Awards. LRSSB is also sponsoring the Significant Safety Initiative category, recognising work to improve safety across the sector.
The organisation is preparing to release a new episode of its Let’s Talk Light Rail podcast, with further details due shortly. Listeners can follow or subscribe to the series to receive the latest episode when it is published.
UKTram has submitted its response to the Mass Transit Taskforce's call for evidence, outlining recommendations to help the UK deliver mass transit schemes more efficiently and sustainably.
The next round-up will be published on Friday, 11th September 2026. If you are a UKTram member with a press release, project update, or career opportunity, please email chelsea.branch@uktram.co.uk to be featured.
Comments