UKTram and LRSSB Summit puts smarter, stronger networks in focus
Updated: 54 minutes ago
This week, light rail professionals from across the UK and Ireland came to Birmingham for the annual UKTram and Light Rail Safety & Standards Board (LRSSB) Summit. The eighth Summit, which took place at Austin Court in Birmingham on Wednesday, 16th September, focused on the theme Smarter Systems, Stronger Networks, with speakers looking at the opportunities driving the sector forward.
This year's programme highlighted the sector’s expertise and gave attendees a chance to apply their knowledge. Topics covered included safety, sustainability, skills, innovation, devolution, decarbonisation and the evolving landscape of mass transit.
UKTram Chair Stephen Edwards opened the event before Managing Director James Hammett reflected on progress over the past year and set out the organisation’s direction as it looks towards its 2027–2040 strategy.
James highlighted growing engagement through UKTram’s Functional Groups, the launch of the Members Hub and RFI Library, new skills initiatives and a strengthening of UKTram’s capacity to support its members.
UKTram has published seven Best Practice Documents over the past year, while Functional Group activity has reached record levels.
Looking ahead, UKTram will increasingly focus on turning its membership’s knowledge into more practical support and stronger sector capability. The organisation's priorities include skills development, improving access to sector intelligence and expertise, supporting the development of future schemes and demonstrating the economic, environmental and social value of light rail.
This is a crucial moment for the sector, as the Government's Mass Transit Taskforce and its Call for Evidence offer new opportunities to shape how future schemes are developed and implemented. UKTram has already provided its evidence, based on input from members and the output of its Functional Groups, and continues to contribute to the Taskforce's activities.
Throughout the day, speakers discussed how new ideas and current expertise can help light rail meet future challenges. Leo Murray, Co-Founder of Riding Sunbeams, explored the potential for renewable energy to support rail traction, including opportunities for direct-wire solar generation and its potential application to light rail networks.
Professors Paul Allen and Stuart Hillmansen also highlighted the research and innovation capabilities available to the sector through UKRRIN, including opportunities for academia and industry to collaborate to tackle practical challenges and accelerate innovation.
Skills and workforce development were also part of the conversation, with Pam and Paul Martin of PMTandA Training and Elev8 exploring training and competence and the importance of developing the skills the sector will need for the future.
Michael Solomon Williams, Head of Campaigns and External Affairs at Campaign for Better Transport, discussed the opportunities that devolution brings and the role of light rail in integrated transport networks. He also stressed the need for local leaders to have the funding and tools to turn transport plans into real projects.
Passenger experience was also firmly on the agenda, with contributions from Jo Smedley at Keolis Nottingham and Samantha Murat at KeolisAmey Docklands sharing initiatives designed to make networks more accessible and responsive to the people who use them.
A powerful contribution came from Amy Watson, Founder of HASSL, whose Fix the Culture, Not the Women session prompted conversations throughout the room about harassment, violence against women and girls, and the role everyone can play in changing the culture that allows harmful behaviour to persist.
Its work includes education, awareness campaigns and workplace training, while its global ambassador community enables people to help drive change within their own workplaces and communities. The session resulted in much discussion about what organisations and individuals can do to help create safer and more inclusive environments.
Safety was a key theme throughout the programme. LRSSB shared updates on sector risk, learning and competence, research and safety reporting. LRSSB’s work with CIRAS has looked at why some incidents in light rail go unreported. Early findings show that serious and visible events are reported more often than early warning signs or everyday issues. Future work will focus on building confidence in reporting and consistency.
The update also looked ahead to how research can help the sector move increasingly from hindsight to foresight, including predictive safety, human-centred systems, intelligent infrastructure and more resilient networks. Read more here >>
This year’s Summit also supported Railway Children, with ticket donations raising £1,550 for the charity. Louise Thornton, Business Development Manager at Railway Children, explained the charity’s work supporting vulnerable children and young people. She also described how the transport sector can help identify those at risk.
Railway Children works with transport operators and other partners to help frontline staff recognise vulnerability, strengthen safeguarding practice and support young people encountered across transport networks. The £1,550 raised through Summit ticket donations will help the charity continue its work to reach and protect vulnerable children and young people.
There were also plenty of connections being made beyond the conference room. The Summit gave colleagues from across light rail an opportunity to make new contacts and continue conversations away from the formal programme.
Exhibitors showcased expertise from across the supply chain, while the day concluded with an informal reception at The Malt House.
Feedback so far has praised the quality of the presentations and the value of bringing colleagues from across the sector together, with many attendees commenting on the knowledge and capability already present in light rail.
James Hammett, Managing Director of UKTram, said:
“This year’s Summit demonstrated yet again just how much expertise and enthusiasm there is across light rail. There is real opportunity ahead for our sector, and UKTram will continue to make sure the knowledge held across our membership is turned into practical support and a collective voice that helps light rail make the most of it.”
“An event of this scale takes a huge amount of work behind the scenes, and I’d like to thank Lorraine George and Dan Hill, whose hard work over many months made the day possible, as well as everyone across UKTram and LRSSB who supported the event."
“We’re proud of the feedback we’ve received. We’re already looking ahead to 2027 and how we can build on this year’s Summit and encourage delegates and members to tell us what they valued and what they would like to see next time.”
Those who attended this year’s Summit are encouraged to share their feedback with the team as planning for 2027 gets underway.
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