Weekly Light Rail News | Safety leadership, heritage highlights & network improvements | 19th September 2025

In this week’s light rail news round-up: sector safety leadership takes the spotlight in Sheffield, Edinburgh Trams celebrate staff milestone, NET boosts services for Goose Fair and Tyne and Wear Metro’s new trains feature on national TV. Further stories cover engineering works, 25 years of TfL with special livery and heritage celebrations at Crich and the Great Orme.

Tyne and Wear Metro’s new trains feature on national TV

Michael Portillo showcased the Tyne and Wear Metro’s new Stadler fleet in his latest BBC Two series, 200 Years of the Railways. The presenter took a trip on the train and tried out the immersive driver training simulator, with Nexus and Stadler describing the programme as a valuable opportunity to highlight the network’s modernisation during a landmark year for the rail industry.

Decommissioned Metro train donated for firefighter training

Nexus has donated a retired Tyne and Wear Metro carriage to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to support vital crew training. The train will be used at the service’s Washington headquarters to recreate real-life rescue scenarios, providing a valuable asset for firefighters and joint exercises with other emergency services.

Transdev Ireland competes at World Tram Driver Championships

Transdev Ireland proudly represented the country at the inaugural World Tram Driver Championships, where its drivers joined international counterparts in Vienna. The event highlighted the high standard of training and professionalism within the Luas driver team.

Blackpool Transport supports Baton of Hope campaign

Blackpool Transport joined the launch of the Baton of Hope relay on the Fylde Coast, a national campaign raising awareness of suicide. The symbolic baton took a tram ride as it began its UK tour, with Managing Director Jane Cole praising staff involvement and highlighting the operator’s support for this important cause.

KeolisAmey Docklands marks 25 years of TfL with special livery

KeolisAmey Docklands has unveiled a DLR train wrap to celebrate 25 years of Transport for London. As a corporate sponsor of the TfL 25 campaign, the operator described the design as a moving tribute to a quarter-century of innovation, progress, and public service across the capital.

Edinburgh Trams marks 13 years of first employees

Edinburgh Trams is celebrating 13 years since its first two employees, Ally Petrie and Jon McCulley, joined the business. Starting before the network opened, both have played key roles in its growth, progressing into senior positions across operations, training and management as the tramway expanded.

Edinburgh Trams announces temporary closure for engineering works

Edinburgh Trams will suspend services between Picardy Place and Haymarket for 72 hours from 27–30 September to allow essential track renewals at Shandwick Place. Stops at St Andrew Square, Princes Street and West End will be closed during the works, with alternative travel options in place and tram tickets accepted on selected Lothian Buses.

NET boosts services for Nottingham’s Goose Fair

Nottingham Express Transit (NET) will run an enhanced tram timetable to help thousands attend the city’s annual Goose Fair, taking place from 25th September for 10 days. Services between Highbury Vale and Nottingham Station will run every four minutes until 11 pm, with additional evening trams and changes at the Forest Park & Ride site to support the event.

Supertram highlights safety leadership on sector podcast

Sheffield Supertram’s Safety Manager, Josh Keeling, has featured on the latest Let’s Talk Light Rail podcast. Joining colleagues from the Heads of Safety Group, he shared insights on collaboration, best practice, and efforts to strengthen safety across UK tramways.

Glasgow Subway supports Great Scottish Run with early opening

SPT Subway will open earlier than usual on Sunday, 5th October to support the Great Scottish Run, with the first train departing Govan at 7:15 am. A special park and ride deal at Shields Road Station will also offer participants free return Subway travel with parking, helping runners and supporters travel easily around the city.

Tram alert system enters next phase of development

A pioneering project exploring the potential of track vibrations to alert pedestrians of approaching trams is set to deliver a major boost for light rail safety as trials are stepped up on networks across the UK. Backed by the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board, the ‘Safer Tram Crossings’ initiative has seen the development of a new alert system by Efficiency Ups Ltd following initial ‘proof of concept’ tests by the company in Sheffield last year.

Heritage: Volk’s Electric Railway announces Driver Experience days

Volk’s Electric Railway has opened bookings for its popular Driver Experience Days, with just 16 slots available across four dates in October. Participants will receive expert tuition, spend over an hour at the controls, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the historic railway.

Crich Tramway Village hosts annual Tram Weekend

The National Tramway Museum at Crich welcomed enthusiasts for its annual Tram Weekend on 13–14 September, featuring 16 passenger trams in service and the popular depot fan photo line-ups. Highlights included the return of Blackpool & Fleetwood 40, marking the 140th anniversary of the Blackpool Tramway. The event was covered by British Trams Online, where you can find more details and photos from the weekend. Great Orme Tramway hosts Community Weekend

The Great Orme Tramway will hold its fifth annual Community Weekend on 28–29 September, offering Conwy residents half-price tickets. The event has become a popular tradition for locals to enjoy the UK’s only cable-hauled tramway on a public road, with the attraction celebrating its 122nd year in 2025.

The next round-up will be published on Saturday 27th September, 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 by Thursday 25th September.