UK Light Rail Round-up | Investment, safety and mass transit consultation | 30 January 2026
- UKTram
- 5 hours ago
- 8 min read
In the final light rail round-up of January 2026: Blackpool Transport takes tram safety messages into local schools, Transport for London sets out plans for tram fleet replacement and DLR extensions and West Yorkshire launches consultation on aligning Mass Transit with future development. Plus, international collaboration on major event readiness at DLR, funding secured to restart Heaton Park Tramway, student travel offers and service updates from NET, heritage investment and events announced at East Anglia Transport Museum and Seaton Tramway and ongoing renewal works across Metro and Subway networks.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the region’s five local authorities have launched a consultation seeking views on how the proposed Mass Transit system can best support economic growth, regeneration and development across West Yorkshire. The consultation will inform the creation of a Spatial Development Framework, designed to coordinate land use, housing, employment and transport planning across council boundaries and support delivery of current and future phases of the Mass Transit programme.
The preferred approach set out in the consultation focuses new development around Mass Transit stops and hubs, aiming to support homes, jobs and services within walking distance of the network. The exercise follows renewed government commitment to Mass Transit funding beyond 2032, subject to business case approval and comes as the Combined Authority prepares to submit its Strategic Outline Case later this year.
Transport for London has published its draft Business Plan to 2029/30, setting out sustained investment in London’s rail-based public transport. The plan includes progressing the extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead, alongside the introduction of new DLR rolling stock as part of wider fleet renewal across the capital.
The Business Plan also confirms the replacement of London’s ageing tram fleet, alongside continued investment in signalling, capacity and accessibility improvements across the wider network. TfL says the programme is intended to support housing growth, regeneration and employment, with light rail and automated metro systems playing a central role in delivering reliable, high-capacity and low-carbon transport for London’s growing population.
KeolisAmey Docklands has been working with international colleagues to support operational readiness for the FIFA World Cup 2026, sharing expertise drawn from managing major events on the Docklands Light Railway. The collaboration has focused on preparations for matches in Boston, which is set to host seven fixtures during the tournament.
Following readiness sessions in the US and a visit to Doha to observe live matchday operations, the Boston team visited London to experience DLR operations first-hand. The programme included time in the control centre and live UK football matchdays, with knowledge-sharing centred on crowd management, station readiness, customer information, incident response and multi-agency coordination across large-scale events.
Nottingham Express Transit has launched a limited discount on its six-month Student Season Tram Ticket, giving college and university students the chance to save £85 on tram travel. From Monday 26 January, the ticket price is reduced from £285 to £200, offering unlimited tram travel across the network until the end of the 2026 academic year, with the offer available via the NETGO! app until 28 February.
NET has also confirmed timetable changes from the same date following the conclusion of its enhanced evening service trial. The network will revert to its standard weekday timetable, with peak trams running every seven minutes from the city centre and evening services operating at up to 15-minute intervals, while discussions with Nottingham City Council continue on the potential for a future return of extended evening frequencies.
KeolisAmey Metrolink strengthens workforce communication through Traxx platform >>
KeolisAmey Metrolink has marked a year of progress in how it communicates with its workforce, following the introduction of a new Internal Communications Blog on its Traxx engagement platform. The initiative was developed to better support a 24-hour operation, where more than 70 per cent of colleagues are not desk-based and many do not have access to a work email address.
The new blog provides a central, easily accessible hub for company updates, benefits information, wellbeing initiatives, operational changes and internal news. Designed to work across app, desktop, mobile and laptop, the platform allows colleagues to stay informed regardless of role, location or shift pattern, whether working on the network, out in the field or overnight.
In its first year, the blog recorded more than 58,000 views during 2025. The platform also supports tailored messaging for specific teams, two-way conversation between colleagues and the business and and interactive features such as regular competitions, helping to increase participation and connection across the organisation. KeolisAmey Metrolink says the continued evolution of Traxx is supporting a more connected and engaged workforce across the Metrolink network.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and its partners have supported new and returning students at Sheffield Hallam University’s Refreshers Fair, providing travel advice across Sheffield and the wider city region. Representatives from Sheffield Supertram attended alongside TravelMaster and Travel South Yorkshire to help students understand the best-value ticket options.
The event gave students the opportunity to ask questions and plan affordable, sustainable travel for the year ahead, with a focus on making it easy to move around the city using public transport. Organisers said the engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to support student travel throughout the academic year.
Blackpool Transport has been delivering tramway safety sessions at schools in Fleetwood as part of a wider campaign to reduce pedestrian risk near tram tracks. The initiative builds on national research identifying pedestrian inattention as the leading cause of tram-related accidents, despite trams being among the safest forms of public transport.
The sessions support the ‘Two Lines = STOP’ safety message developed by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board and have already been introduced to pupils at Cardinal Allen School. Blackpool Transport has confirmed that further visits to schools located near the tramway are planned over the coming months as part of ongoing efforts to maintain the network’s strong safety record.
Young Rail Professionals West Midlands will host a Question Time–style panel discussion in February to explore how politics, policy, and regional decision-making shape the future of rail across the West Midlands.Â
The event, Politics in Rail: West Midlands YRP Question Time, will take place on Thursday, 19th February 2026 at the WSP Office. UKTram is pleased to see light rail represented on the panel by Sophie Allison, Managing Director of West Midlands Metro and a UKTram Board Member, alongside senior voices from across the wider rail industry.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has confirmed that engineers are carrying out overnight works to progress the ongoing modernisation of the Glasgow Subway while minimising disruption to passengers.
The work includes testing of a new public address and voice alarm system across stations.
Engineers are checking sound levels to ensure announcements and safety messages are clear and consistent ahead of the system going live. The testing forms part of a wider package of upgrades being delivered through the Subway modernisation programme, with further phases planned as work continues.
Edinburgh Trams colleagues have taken part in a tree planting day with the Borders Forest Trust, supporting efforts to rewild areas of the Scottish Borders. The activity took place near Moffat, where a group of staff spent the day learning about habitat restoration and helping to establish new woodland.
The team planted a mix of native willow, alder and rowan trees, selected to thrive in wetter soils and support local ecosystems through carbon capture and biodiversity. The planting forms part of Borders Forest Trust’s long-term work to restore historic woodland across its 3,000-acre site in the Southern Uplands, supported by volunteers and partner organisations.
Nexus has begun major restoration work on the historic footbridge at Whitley Bay Metro station as part of the Metro Asset Renewal Programme. The project forms the latest phase of a multi-million-pound renewal scheme at the Grade II listed station, following the full restoration of the station canopy completed in 2025.
The works will see structural repairs and strengthening of the steelwork, installation of new decking, stairs and handrails, and a full repaint of the footbridge, allowing it to reopen to customers. The station, which serves around 1.2 million journeys a year on the Tyne and Wear Metro, will remain open throughout the works, with the restoration scheduled for completion in May 2026.
Heaton Park Tramway is set to resume operations following confirmation of a £400,000 funding award to restore its electrical substation, as announced via the tramway’s Facebook page. The investment, secured from Manchester City Council, will fund essential upgrade works to bring the substation up to current safety standards after trams have been unable to run for the past 18 months.
The restoration work is due to begin this spring, with the tramway expected to reopen in summer 2026, aligning with celebrations marking 125 years since Manchester’s first electric tramways began operation in 1901. The funding supports the long-term future of the only remaining section of Manchester’s original tramway network, maintained through the ongoing partnership between the City Council and volunteers from the Manchester Transport Museum Society.
Seaton Tramway has announced that tickets will go on sale from 1st February for the return of The Polar Express™ Tram Ride in East Devon, with services running on selected dates between 27th November and 24th December 2026. The immersive family experience, inspired by the classic story and film, is expected to sell out quickly, following strong demand in previous years.
The experience features a round-trip tram journey to the North Pole, live performances by an onboard cast, themed entertainment, and a visit to Santa, with tickets starting from £29.95 and under-twos travelling free. Seaton Tramway has confirmed that early access will be available to newsletter subscribers from 31st January, ahead of general sale opening at 10am on 1st February.
As reported by British Trams Online, the East Anglia Transport Museum has published its events programme for 2026 following its recent recognition as Museum/Heritage Tramway of the Year. The programme features a mix of new and returning events across the season, including a Festival of Transport in September celebrating all modes of transport, with late-night tram, trolleybus and railway operation.
The season opens on the 3rd April with an Easter Treasure Hunt and runs through to the end of October, alongside themed weekends such as the Swinging 60s, 1940s Weekend and Showtime Sundays, with Frights at the Museum and Ride the Lights returning later in the year. In addition to special events, the museum will be open regularly throughout the season, with an expanded calendar designed to attract both enthusiasts and families.
UKTram and LRSSB: Board appointments confirmed at UKTram AGMÂ >>
UKTram has confirmed the appointment of new and returning Board members following its Annual General Meeting, held on Wednesday, 28th January 2026, as the organisation continues to strengthen leadership and long-term direction for the light rail sector.Â
Members elected Guillaume Chanussot and Simon Coulthard as Non-Executive Directors, bringing extensive experience across light rail, heavy rail and public transport governance.Â
UKTram attended an online seminar on Coventry Very Light Rail on 22nd January 2026, delivered as part of a joint event hosted by the Institution of Civil Engineers West Midlands (Coventry and Warwickshire branch) and the Railway Civil Engineers Association.Â
The event took place at Coventry Conferences, located at Coventry University Technology Park, with online access available for remote attendees. UKTram was represented online by Tim Bilby, Stakeholder and Innovation Manager.
The next round-up will be published on Friday, 6th February, 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