UK and Ireland Tram and Light Rail Round-up | community initiatives, accessibility and transport heritage | Friday, 22nd May 2026
- 12 hours ago
- 6 min read
In the UK and Ireland tram and light rail round-up this week: West Midlands Metro renews Pride travel partnership, Runner prepares to become first woman to complete Tyne and Wear Metro route challenge and Supertram launches community volunteer programme across South Yorkshire. Plus, KeolisAmey Docklands launches search for new charity partners, Leeds regeneration plans linked to future West Yorkshire mass transit network and Edinburgh Trams marks first anniversary of Tap On, Tap Off system. Heritage highlights this week include Beamish's nine-day Festival of Transport celebration and National Tramway Village confirms September launch for accessible heritage tram.
West Midlands Metro has announced the return of discounted tram travel for this year’s Birmingham Pride celebrations, with event ticketholders able to access reduced fares across the network during the festival weekend.
The operator says trams will provide a convenient way for visitors to travel into the city centre, with frequent services and park and ride facilities helping support travel to one of the region’s largest annual events.
A Tyneside mum is bidding to become the first woman to run the entire length of the Metro system in a single day, a test of endurance which has grown in popularity in recent years. Alice Townend is taking on the 65-mile challenge in support of Women’s Street Watch in Newcastle, a grassroots network of volunteers who work on the city’s streets at night to keep women safe.
The run – which takes place on the weekend of the 8th and 9th of August - will see Alice cover the length of both of Metro’s Yellow and Green lines in a 24-hour period. Inspired not only by her chosen cause and her own personal passion for running, Alice was also inspired by the story of Paul McDougal from Cramlington, who successfully ran the Metro lines in just 18 hours earlier this year.
Supertram has launched a new Community Ambassador Volunteer Programme aimed at supporting improvements across the tram network while strengthening links with local communities.
The initiative will give volunteers opportunities to take part in activities including planting, litter picking, painting and supporting community events around tram stops and surrounding areas.
Free tram travel will also be provided for participants on volunteering days, helping make activities more accessible for those taking part across the network.
KeolisAmey Docklands launches search for new charity partners >>
KeolisAmey Docklands has opened applications for two new charity partnerships following two years of fundraising and community support work across East London. The operator says colleagues have helped raise £25,000 for local organisations Neighbours in Poplar and Community Links through activities including fundraising events, donations and marathon participation.
The support has contributed towards food provision, community outreach and youth development initiatives across areas served by the Docklands Light Railway, with applications now open for charities located close to DLR stations.
Edinburgh Trams is celebrating one year since the launch of its Tap On, Tap Off ticketing system, which has now recorded more than 2.4 million passenger journeys across the network. The contactless system, introduced in May 2025, was the first multi-modal, multi-operator account-based ticketing solution introduced in Scotland.
The system now accounts for more than 72% of adult single tram tickets sold at platforms and was recognised at the 2025 Global Light Rail Awards, where it won Best Customer Initiative.
Luas has reminded passengers of the different ways they can discreetly report anti-social behaviour while travelling across the network. Working alongside An Garda SÃochána, the operator is encouraging customers to use the Luas app, WhatsApp or text messaging services to report incidents in real time without drawing attention to themselves.
Passengers are also being encouraged to include tram numbers or stop details where possible to help teams respond more effectively and support a safer journey across the network.
Plans for a new Mayoral Development Zone in Leeds have been unveiled by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Leeds City Council Leader James Lewis, with proposals designed to accelerate regeneration, housing and transport investment across the city.
The proposals include major investment in public transport infrastructure, with leaders highlighting the future delivery of West Yorkshire’s integrated Mass Transit system as central to supporting growth across Leeds and the wider region. The wider plans aim to improve connections to jobs, education and new neighbourhoods while supporting large-scale regeneration across Leeds South Bank and surrounding areas.
Heritage Highlights
The National Tramway Museum at Crich has confirmed plans to officially launch its new Access Tram II project during this year’s Tram Weekend in September. The converted Blackpool Centenary Car 645 will provide wheelchair users with the opportunity to experience rides on the museum tramway once again following several years without an accessible operational tram.
Alongside onboard accessibility improvements, the project is also expected to offer supervised driving experiences for wheelchair users — believed to be a first for a heritage tramway operation.
The East Anglia Transport Museum welcomed visitors back to the Swinging Sixties during its latest themed event weekend, with heritage trams, trolleybuses, vintage buses and period vehicles helping recreate the atmosphere of the era. The event also featured live music from The Austin Beats and operating services on the museum’s East Suffolk Light Railway.
Photos and a full event write-up were shared by British Trams Online, capturing vehicles in operation across the site including Sheffield tram 513, Amsterdam tram 474 and Bournemouth trolleybus 286.
Beamish Museum is preparing to host its annual Festival of Transport later this month, with buses, trams, steam engines, motorcycles and heritage railway operations all set to feature across the nine-day event. The programme includes the return of the popular Fares Please! bus event alongside static vehicle displays, transport exhibitions and operating heritage transport across the museum site.
Visitors will also be able to experience Beamish’s historic tram and bus fleet in operation throughout the festival, alongside transport-themed activities celebrating the region’s rich industrial and transport heritage.
UKTram updates
Members of the Mixed-Use Railway (MUR) community met in Stourbridge this week for discussions on the future direction of the initiative, alongside the launch of a new industry webpage hosted by UKTram.
Held at the Bonded Warehouse on Monday 18th May, the meeting brought together organisations involved in the growing cross-industry initiative, which promotes a more integrated and flexible approach to rail development.
Last week, UKTram representatives participated in two major industry events, contributing to discussions on the future of light rail, urban mobility, and integrated transport networks in the UK.
Both events highlighted the growing momentum in the light rail sector and offered valuable opportunities to engage with organisations involved in infrastructure, engineering, operations, innovation, and regional transport development.
UKTram highlights accessibility progress across light rail sector for Accessibility Awareness Day >>
UKTram has highlighted the importance of accessible public transport as part of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, sharing examples of how tram and light rail networks across the UK and Ireland are continuing to improve inclusive travel for passengers with disabilities and additional needs.
In its latest blog, UKTram spotlighted initiatives including KeolisAmey Metrolink’s staff accessibility awareness programme and Nottingham Express Transit’s work with accessibility organisations to develop symbol-supported travel guides and audio resources. The article also reflected on how modern light rail systems continue to improve independent travel through features such as level boarding, step-free access and clearer passenger information across networks including Edinburgh Trams, Luas, DLR and Tyne and Wear Metro.
The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board has hosted its first Marketing and Communications Best Practice meeting, bringing together representatives from tram and light rail networks across the UK sector to discuss safety communications and public engagement.
The session focused on sharing ideas, experiences and approaches to improving safety messaging across tramways, with discussions centred around collaboration and strengthening awareness campaigns across the industry.
Limited tickets remain available for the UKTram & LRSSB Light Rail Summit 2026, taking place on Wednesday 16th September. Now in its eighth year, the summit continues to provide a valuable platform for discussion around the issues shaping the future of light rail, while bringing together professionals from across the sector.
With strong interest already shown in this year’s event, delegates are encouraged to secure their place soon to avoid disappointment. Scan the QR code to book your place.
The next round-up will be published on Friday, 5th June, 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