UK and Ireland Tram and Light Rail Round-up: International Women’s Day features, network upgrades and cultural highlights | 6 March
- Mar 6
- 10 min read
Plenty to get on track with in this week’s UK and Ireland tram and light rail round-up. As the sector marks International Women’s Day on Sunday 8th March, this week’s update includes several features highlighting women across the industry, alongside news from across UK and Irish networks and heritage tramways.
There’s been a 4% rise in female representation in the transport sector workforce since 2023, according to the Women in Transport Equity Index. However, whilst progress is being made, continuing this upward trend remains a key priority for gender equality within the sector.
Sarah Turner, Managing Director of Nottingham Express Transit, has highlighted the importance of improving gender diversity in the transport sector ahead of International Women’s Day. Speaking about her leadership journey and role within the industry, she emphasised the value of mentoring and visible female leadership in encouraging more women to pursue careers in transport.
Dublin’s Luas network has marked International Women's Day ahead of the 2026 event on 8th March by recognising the contribution of women working across the transport sector. The initiative forms part of the international campaign theme #GiveToGain, which encourages action to support greater equality and opportunity.
The campaign highlights the importance of a diverse workforce in driving innovation and attracting talent, while increasing the visibility of women working in transport. It also aims to encourage more women and young people to consider careers within the sector.
Women in Transport will host an online event on 10th March to mark International Women's Day, bringing together professionals from across the transport sector to share career experiences and advice. The session will take place between 13:00 and 14:00 on Zoom and will feature speakers from organisations including Arup, West Midlands Metro and UKTram.
Discussions will focus on career journeys, practical guidance for those entering the sector and the importance of collaboration in supporting diversity, reflecting this year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain.
West Midlands Metro will mark International Women's Day with a staff event focused on learning, confidence building and personal development. The initiative reflects this year’s theme, #GiveToGain, encouraging colleagues to support one another through shared knowledge and experience.
The event will include guest speakers and a “Give to Gain Wall” where staff can share goals and aspirations for the year ahead. Metro said the initiative builds on its commitment to creating more opportunities for women across the organisation and the wider transport sector.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has marked International Women's Day by recognising the contribution of women working across its organisation. The initiative highlights the role women play in supporting transport services across the west of Scotland.
SPT said colleagues across operations, customer service, engineering and leadership continue to help deliver safer and more accessible journeys for passengers across the region.
The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board has marked International Women's Day by revisiting a previous episode of its Let’s Talk Light Rail podcast. The discussion features Sophie Allison, Sarah Singh and Sarah Higgins sharing their experiences and perspectives on attracting more women into the light rail sector.
The episode explores the importance of visibility, skills development and creating opportunities for women pursuing careers across the industry.
The MetroLink Dublin programme has recognised the contribution of women across the project ahead of International Women's Day. The initiative highlights the role women play across engineering, architecture, design and project delivery as the scheme progresses.
Organisations involved in the project, including Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority, said the programme aims to support diversity while encouraging more women to pursue careers in transport and infrastructure.
The Manchester Metrolink network played a key role in supporting travel during last week’s BRIT Awards, which were held in Manchester for the first time. A BRIT Awards-branded tram and themed signage were introduced across the network as part of the city’s preparations for the event.
Passengers travelling to the ceremony at Co-op Live were guided by guest announcements recorded by music producer and artist PinkPantheress, with Etihad Campus identified as the nearest stop. Event ticket holders were also offered free tram travel to help manage demand and support access to the venue.
Transport for Greater Manchester has announced a £150 million programme of works to maintain and upgrade the Manchester Metrolink network. The programme will focus on improving track infrastructure, tram reliability and workforce capacity to support growing passenger demand across Greater Manchester.
Works will take place at several locations across the network between spring and autumn, with some temporary service changes required during the upgrades. The programme also includes recruiting additional tram drivers and introducing revised timetables to maintain frequent services during the improvement works.
Vintage recordings of The Hobbit have been discovered during track renewal work on the Tyne and Wear Metro network. The cassette tapes, containing a BBC radio drama adaptation of the novel, were found buried beneath ballast at the base of an overhead line mast during works in Newcastle.
The recordings, originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1968 and later released as a cassette set, were uncovered during routine infrastructure inspections. Metro staff described the find as an unusual discovery during engineering works on the network.
Edinburgh Trams has partnered with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance to support one of the charity’s largest fundraising events at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium. The event, taking place on 16th May, will see participants take part in abseiling and stair climbing challenges to raise funds for the lifesaving service.
Edinburgh Trams will help transport supporters to the stadium, supporting access to the event while encouraging participation in fundraising activities to support air ambulance services across Scotland.
South Yorkshire Supertram has highlighted its continued involvement with the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board, reinforcing its commitment to sharing best practice and supporting safety improvements across the UK light rail sector.
The operator also confirmed that its Head of Finance and Commercial, Ian Law, has joined the LRSSB Board. Supertram said the appointment reflects its ongoing contribution to industry collaboration aimed at maintaining safe and reliable tram services.
Transport for London has confirmed that new trains on the Docklands Light Railway are expected to return to customer service by late summer following progress in investigation and testing. The fleet was withdrawn in late 2025 as a precaution after one train stopped beyond its intended stopping point.
Engineers from TfL and the manufacturer, CAF, are implementing braking software improvements and carrying out further testing before the trains are reintroduced. Once fully deployed, the new fleet will replace the oldest vehicles on the network and increase capacity by more than 50 per cent.
KeolisAmey Metrolink has highlighted the role of employee recognition ahead of Employee Appreciation Day through its “Proper Appreciated” initiative. The programme encourages colleagues across the organisation to recognise acts of teamwork, support and kindness that contribute to the operation of the Metrolink network.
The initiative encourages both managers and colleagues to recognise one another’s contributions, reinforcing a culture where positive actions and everyday achievements are acknowledged across the business.
Alistair Gordon, CEO of Keolis UK, has set out the case for a coordinated national approach to light rail development in Britain. Writing in Rail magazine, he proposed the creation of “Great British Light Rail”, a body that could provide long-term strategy and coordination for the sector.
Alistair pointed to the success of networks such as Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit and Docklands Light Railway as evidence of light rail’s role in supporting urban growth. He argued that a clearer national framework, alongside planning reform and long-term investment pipelines, could help replicate these successes and support the development of new light rail and very light rail schemes across the UK.
Arup has appointed Tony Gee and Partners as a strategic design partner for the next phase of the Coventry Very Light Rail programme. The collaboration will support the delivery of an 800-metre twin-track city centre demonstrator route designed to operate in live traffic.
The project will test a lightweight battery-powered vehicle and an innovative shallow trackform installed around 30cm beneath the road surface, aimed at reducing installation time, cost and disruption compared with conventional light rail systems. The demonstrator will provide operational and construction data to support the development of Coventry’s first commercial CVLR route, with completion targeted for summer 2027.
Customers of West Midlands Metro have reported high levels of satisfaction with tram services, according to the latest independent survey. The results show that 93 per cent of passengers are satisfied or very satisfied with their journey, a two-percentage-point increase compared with the previous year.
The survey also recorded improvements in reliability, service frequency and journey comfort, alongside high ratings for journey times and cleanliness. The results come as the network prepares to introduce new routes later this year.
Steven Knight has unveiled a West Midlands Metro tram named in his honour ahead of the Birmingham premiere of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The tram features imagery of Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby and celebrates the show’s connection to Birmingham.
The unveiling took place in Centenary Square outside Symphony Hall, recognising Knight’s contribution to promoting the city and region through film and television. Metro said the tram will act as a permanent tribute to the creative talent associated with the West Midlands.
Plans for a Mass Transit system in West Yorkshire have received renewed backing following a visit to the region by the Rail Minister. Government representatives, regional leaders and business stakeholders reaffirmed their support for the programme, which aims to improve connectivity and support economic growth across the region.
The project has also received public support from Leeds United Football Club and other regional partners, as work continues towards submitting a Strategic Outline Case later this year. Local leaders say the scheme could play a key role in strengthening transport links and unlocking regeneration across West Yorkshire
Heritage highlights
The National Tramway Museum has announced it will simplify how it refers to the site, moving away from the longer title of Crich Tramway Village, the home of the National Tramway Museum. The organisation will now be more widely known as the National Tramway Museum, or NTM.
Located in Derbyshire, the museum combines a working heritage tramway with an open-air setting that showcases the history and development of Britain’s tramway systems. The site will reopen for the new visitor season on 14th March.
Passenger numbers across the Isle of Man’s heritage railway network increased in 2025, according to figures reported by British Trams Online. Overall passenger numbers rose by 4.5 per cent compared with 2024, with growth recorded across all four lines, including the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, the Isle of Man Steam Railway, the Manx Electric Railway and the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
The Douglas Bay Horse Tramway saw the largest increase, with passenger numbers rising by more than nine per cent year-on-year. The Manx Electric Railway remained the busiest line on the network, carrying more than 155,000 passengers during the year.
The East Anglia Transport Museum has welcomed the arrival of Blackpool standard tram No.143, which has been loaned to the museum by the Fylde Transport Trust. The historic vehicle was transported more than 300 miles from Blackpool to Suffolk after preparations by museum volunteers.
Built for service on the Blackpool Tramway, tram No.143 represents an important part of Britain’s electric transport history. The museum said its arrival will provide visitors with the opportunity to see the vehicle alongside its existing collection of heritage trams.
Seaton Tramway has announced a special promotion for Mother’s Day on 15 March, offering free tram travel for mothers when booked online using a dedicated code. The heritage tramway is encouraging visitors to mark the occasion with a scenic journey along the Axe estuary.
Visitors can also book lunch at the Tramstop Café or take part in the Driver’s Eye Experience, which offers passengers the opportunity to see the tramway from the driver’s perspective.
UKTram updates
UKTram has marked International Women's Day by highlighting the importance of supporting others across the light rail sector. Reflecting this year’s theme, Give to Gain, the organisation emphasised that sharing knowledge, creating opportunities and supporting colleagues can help build a stronger and more resilient industry.
UKTram and sector partners have highlighted career opportunities in light rail as part of National Careers Week. The Rising Stars programme, launched at the Light Rail Conference in Leeds with support from the Light Rail Transit Association and Mainspring, aims to support early-career professionals across the sector.
Open to people aged 18 to 35 working in the industry, the initiative offers access to professional networks, training and knowledge-sharing opportunities designed to support long-term career development in light rail.
Buckland Rail has joined UKTram as its newest member. The rail engineering group provides expertise across passenger, freight and light rail systems.
The company delivers engineering support throughout the asset lifecycle, including build, overhaul, maintenance and long-term asset management across the UK rail industry.
UKTram has confirmed that two presentation spaces remain available for supply trade members at its upcoming online session, “Trade & Trams: Delivering light rail together”. The event will take place on 31st March 2026 and is organised for participants of the Light Rail Engineering Group.
The session will bring together light rail engineers and supply trade members to share engineering insights, lessons learned and innovations across the sector. UKTram supply trade members interested in presenting are invited to submit an expression of interest while spaces remain available.
UKTram attended the Clean Futures Innovation Circuit Demonstration Day on 19th February 2026, held at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering in Coventry.
The Clean Futures Innovation Circuit for the West Midlands supports SMEs in developing new ideas by providing funding alongside opportunities to make connections with potential customers. The demonstration day formed part of a wider series of events, with this year marking the third cohort of the programme.
The next round-up will be published on Friday, 13th March. If you are a UKTram Member and would like to be included in the round-up or the Members News section of the UKTram website, please submit your details. Please send your press releases, event updates and career opportunities to chelsea.branch@uktram.co.uk
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