UK and Ireland Tram and Light Rail Round-up | Upgrades, demand and future networks | Friday 17th April 2026
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The latest in UK and Ireland Light Rail
Marking World Public Transport Day, this week’s UK and Ireland Light Rail round-up highlights the vital role light rail continues to play in keeping communities connected and people moving. Across the UK and Ireland, networks are supporting events, advancing investment and building resilience, underlining the impact of public transport on everyday life.
Highlights this week include: passengers to plan ahead for Manchester ‘Super Sunday’, Pre Metro reports strong year for Stourbridge Shuttle and VLR ambitions and Luas Finglas project clears key legal milestone. Plus Metro timber donation supports heritage railway biodiversity project, Fleetwood tram stops reopen following track upgrade works and West Midlands Metro to support Great Birmingham Run with additional services. Heritage highlights this week include: Beamish named North East’s most visited attraction for second year and National Tramway Museum secures major funding for exhibition hall upgrade.
Transport for Greater Manchester is encouraging passengers to plan ahead as the Manchester Marathon and a major Premier League fixture take place on the same day, with more than 40,000 runners and tens of thousands of spectators expected across the city.
Metrolink is set to play a central role in moving people around Greater Manchester, with trams expected to be the busiest mode of transport due to widespread road closures and bus diversions. Passengers are advised to allow extra time for travel, particularly on the Altrincham and East Didsbury lines, highlighting the importance of light rail in managing large-scale events and peak demand across the network.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland has confirmed that Judicial Review proceedings relating to the Luas Finglas extension have been withdrawn, allowing the project to move forward. The development marks a significant step for one of Dublin’s most advanced light rail schemes.
The extension is expected to support the delivery of nearly 10,000 homes while providing high-capacity, accessible and low-carbon transport for communities in north Dublin. With Luas passenger numbers continuing to grow alongside the city’s population, the project reflects the ongoing role of light rail in enabling sustainable urban expansion.
A donation of surplus timber from Tyne and Wear Metro is supporting biodiversity improvements at the Stephenson Steam Railway in North Tyneside. Materials from Metro’s lineside are being reused to enhance the site’s Woodland Walk, a nature trail developed on former wasteland.
The initiative highlights collaboration between light rail and heritage organisations, with the project helping to improve habitats while enhancing the visitor experience. It also reflects ongoing links between Nexus and the site, which was previously home to the Metro test track.
Tram services in Fleetwood have returned to normal following the completion of track upgrade works between Fisherman’s Walk and Fleetwood Ferry. Around 190 metres of track have been rewelded, with improvements aimed at delivering more reliable and comfortable journeys.
The reopening of Fleetwood Ferry, Victoria Street and London Street stops marks the return of a full timetable, with services operating every 15 minutes. Further investment is planned later in the year, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain and improve network performance.
Services on the Supertram network have returned to a 12-minute timetable following the completion of essential upgrade works across key sections of the network. More than £2 million was invested to replace worn rails and carry out track repairs, improving reliability and journey quality.
The work forms part of a wider £110 million investment programme running to 2027, covering fleet, infrastructure and systems upgrades. Temporary timetable changes during the works have now been lifted, with full services resuming across the network.
Edinburgh Trams will operate additional services to support travel to Scottish Gas Murrayfield for the Scotland Women’s Six Nations fixture against England. The match is expected to attract the largest crowd ever recorded for a women’s sporting event in Scotland.
Passengers are being encouraged to use contactless ‘Tap On, Tap Off’ or pre-purchase tickets, with park-and-ride options also available at Ingliston. The approach highlights the role of light rail in managing high-demand events while providing direct, reliable access to major venues.
Pre Metro Operations has reported a strong 2025/26 year, with the Stourbridge Shuttle carrying over 576,000 passengers and maintaining high reliability at 99.44%. The figures reflect continued recovery and reinforce the Shuttle’s role as a dependable local transport link.
Momentum is also building behind Very Light Rail proposals in the Black Country, including the Dudley Dasher scheme, which aims to provide a low-cost, zero-emission alternative using existing rail corridors. Alongside operational performance, investment in fleet upgrades and ongoing collaboration across the sector continue to support the wider case for scalable, local rail solutions.
Keolis leadership visits highlight safety and operational focus across UK networks >>
Senior leadership from the Keolis Group, including CEO and Chairman Frédéric Van Heems, visited both KeolisAmey Metrolink and KeolisAmey Docklands, engaging with teams across operations, maintenance and control. The visits provided insight into day-to-day delivery across two of the UK’s largest light rail networks.
Across both networks, discussions focused on safety, operational performance, and future priorities, as well as the role of innovation in improving the passenger and staff experience.
Luas has marked World Public Transport Day today, 17th April, celebrating the role of public transport in connecting communities and supporting everyday journeys across Dublin. The global theme, “One day and a million journeys,” highlights the scale and impact of public transport networks.
With more than 55 million passenger journeys recorded last year, Luas continues to play a central role in the city’s transport system, operating across 44.5 kilometres of track and 67 stops as part of an integrated public transport network.
Transport for London is advising customers to plan ahead of planned strike action on the London Underground, with disruption expected across most lines between the 21st and 24th April. While some services are expected to run, levels will vary and significant disruption is anticipated.
Other TfL services, including the Docklands Light Railway and London Trams, are expected to operate as normal, although they are likely to be significantly busier as passengers seek alternative routes. The situation highlights the role of light rail and other networks in maintaining connectivity during disruptions to the wider transport system.
West Midlands Metro has confirmed it will support the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run for the third consecutive year, with additional tram services planned to help move thousands of runners and spectators across the city. The event, one of the largest in the region, is expected to generate significant demand on transport networks.
Extra early-morning trams will operate to support access to the start line, with park-and-ride options and discounted travel also available. Temporary service adjustments will be in place during the event.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has set out plans to secure greater powers and funding to accelerate regional growth, including the development of mass rapid transit for Cambridge. The move forms part of a wider ambition to strengthen transport, infrastructure and connectivity across the region.
The proposal, backed by local leaders, highlights the need for significant investment to support economic expansion, with improved rail services, new stations and mass transit identified as key priorities. The development signals continued momentum behind pipeline schemes and the growing role of integrated transport in enabling long-term regional growth.
Heritage Highlights National Tramway Museum secures major funding for exhibition hall upgrade >>
The National Tramway Museum has been awarded £492,880 from Arts Council England’s Museum Estates and Development Fund to support the refurbishment of its Great Exhibition Hall. The investment will focus on making the building weatherproof, improving lighting and enhancing the overall visitor experience.
The funding supports the preservation of nationally significant tram heritage while strengthening the museum’s long-term sustainability. Improvements to the exhibition space are expected to enhance accessibility and engagement for visitors, reinforcing the role of heritage tramways in connecting audiences with the history of light rail.
New investment at the Black Country Living Museum is expected to support the future return of tram operations, alongside plans to reintroduce trolleybuses, as reported by British Trams Online. The £272,000 funding will be used to restore vehicles and extend the trolleybus route through the museum’s recreated mid-century streets.
While the immediate focus is on bringing trolleybuses back into service, the shared infrastructure between the two modes means the project strengthens the foundations for tram operations to return in the future. The development highlights how targeted heritage investment can support longer-term ambitions for operational tramway experiences.
Beamish Museum has been named the most visited attraction in the North East for a second consecutive year, according to figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions. The museum welcomed more than 815,000 visitors in 2025, placing it among the top 50 attractions nationally.
The milestone follows the completion of the Remaking Beamish project, with continued investment in events and immersive experiences supporting strong visitor engagement. The figures highlight the role of heritage attractions in driving regional tourism and showcasing transport history to new audiences.
UKTram and LRSSB:
Applications close today for the Head of Commercial Services position at the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board, as the organisation looks to strengthen its commercial capability during a period of growth. The role will focus on developing and delivering a commercial strategy to support sustainable and scalable income streams.
UKTram has supported the delivery of its first Light Rail and Tramway Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) training course, marking an important step in strengthening sector competency, capability and safety.
Delivered in partnership with Skillstep Group in Crewe from 30th March to 1st April 2026, the three-day course combined theoretical learning with practical, hands-on training, providing delegates with a structured understanding of UK light rail OLE systems and safe working practices.
Today, on 17th April 2026, the global transport community marks the first World Public Transport Day, a new initiative led by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) to recognise the role public transport plays in everyday life.
For UKTram, World Public Transport Day highlights the principles guiding its industry work. Collaboration and practical delivery are vital in supporting members and advancing the industry.
UKTram was represented at a recent industry networking event in Dublin, bringing together professionals from across the UK and Ireland to discuss the progress and future direction of light rail.
The BITA Rail Division Networking Evening, held on the 8th of April, was organised in partnership with Rail Link ahead of its wider industry event. The session focused on light rail and provided a platform for sharing insights on developments and opportunities across the sector.
UKTram will participate in an industry seminar bringing together leading organisations from the rail and light rail sectors to discuss the future of urban transport.
The event will take place at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds on the 14th May 2026 and will be hosted by RailEI (formerly the Permanent Way Institution). The seminar builds on the growing partnership between UKTram and RailEI, following a mutual membership agreement that reflects a shared commitment to collaboration, cross-sector learning and closer alignment between the UK’s light rail sector and the wider rail industry.
The next round-up will be published on Friday, 24th April. If you are a UKTram Member, and you'd like to be included in the round-up shared on the website, socials and our exclusive Members' hub, please send your press releases, event updates and career opportunities to chelsea.branch@uktram.co.uk
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