Weekly Light Rail News | Service changes and sector conversations | 25th September 2026
In today's weekly light rail news round-up: passengers are advised to prepare for major Metrolink improvement works, while strike action is expected to affect Nottingham’s tram network during Goose Fair. Free Wi-Fi is expanding across the Tyne and Wear Metro and UKTram colleagues have had a busy week contributing to sector events in Belfast, Berlin, Coventry and Poland. Heritage highlights include the return of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway’s Sunshade car 32 and the rediscovery of a Dundee electric tram after more than 70 years.
Jamie Soutar completed a run of more than 160km across two days, visiting all 99 Metrolink stops throughout Greater Manchester. His Every Stop Counts challenge followed the network before finishing at Piccadilly Station.
The endurance run raised money for 42nd Street, a charity supporting young people's mental health. KeolisAmey Metrolink supported Jamie during the challenge, which used the scale of the tram network to draw attention to the charity’s work.
Passengers are being advised to plan ahead for significant Metrolink service changes between 19th October and 1st November. No trams will operate on the Altrincham, Eccles or Trafford Park lines, while East Didsbury and Manchester Airport services will terminate at Firswood.
Around 4km of track will be replaced between Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield as part of TfGM’s £150m network investment programme. More direct replacement buses and additional capacity on selected Bee Network routes will support passengers.
Nottingham tram workers plan strike action across two weekends, including the opening of Goose Fair. Services will be affected between 5 am on Saturday 26th September and 4.59am on Monday 28th September, then again between 5 am on Friday 2nd October and 4.59 am on Sunday 4th October. An overtime ban will apply between the two periods.
The action follows nine months of pay talks. NET offered a 3.3% increase, rising to 7% for its lowest-paid roles, while GMB is seeking 4.1%.
Nexus will extend its free Metro Connect Wi-Fi service to Monument, St James, Jesmond and Gateshead stations over the next seven months. The network is already available at Haymarket and Central Station, where an initial three-month pilot became permanent following positive passenger feedback.
The expansion will improve connectivity at underground stations where mobile coverage can be limited. Passengers will be able to access real-time service information through the Pop App, make Wi-Fi calls and use online messaging.
Prague won the 12th European TramDriver Championship in Warsaw on 19th September. Vendula Tmejová and Zdeněk Rychtář scored 6,000 points across eight disciplines, finishing ahead of teams representing Oradea and Sofia.
Edinburgh and London took part in this year's competition. Tampere’s Hilda Polamo and Kyiv’s Andrii Bichev secured the individual women’s and men’s titles respectively, with around 80,000 viewers following the competition online.
UKTram highlighted Sheffield Supertram’s role as an alternative to car travel for World Car Free Day, focusing on what helps passengers choose public transport. With average service reliability of 99%, the network offers dependable access to destinations across South Yorkshire.
A new facility at Magna opened this year with 100 free spaces, while options to expand provision elsewhere on the Supertram network are being explored following public engagement.
UKTram and LRSSB Updates
Over the past week, colleagues have shared knowledge and made new connections at events across the UK and Europe, from UITP in Poland and InnoTrans in Berlin to the latest Mass Transit Taskforce roundtable in Belfast and Time for Trams in Coventry.
The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board’s National Safety Campaign featured on the Rail Safety Partnership stand during the Scouts Gilwell Reunion. Campaign characters were adapted as Scouts to share the “Two Lines = STOP!” message with young people attending the event.
Rail technology and engineering specialist Wabtec has joined UKTram, looking to build stronger connections across light rail. Wabtec UK provides rail technology, engineering services and lifecycle support for passenger and freight operators across the UK
UKTram’s latest Light Rail Operations Committee and Light Rail Engineering Group meetings saw members share experience across some of the operational and engineering issues currently facing the sector.
Heritage Highlights Douglas Bay Horse Tramway’s Sunshade car 32 returns to service
British Trams Online reports that Sunshade car 32 has returned to service on the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway for the first time in more than 20 years. The restored vehicle carried passengers again on 12th September, although some finishing work remains.
Built by G.F. Miles of Birkenhead in 1896, car 32 was one of six Sunshade trams supplied to the line. Its restoration began with an appeal in 2019 and was later taken forward by Isle of Man Railways.
The East Anglia Transport Museum will hold its Festival of Transport at Carlton Colville this weekend. The event will run between 2 pm and 8 pm on Saturday 26th September, followed by an 11 am–5 pm programme on Sunday 27th September.
Visitors can see an intensive three-car tram service alongside two-way trolleybus operation and the museum’s narrow-gauge railway. Visiting vehicles, exhibitions and a free vintage bus service from an off-site location will also form part of the weekend.
British Trams Online reports that the only known surviving Dundee electric tram has been discovered on a city allotment, where it is thought to have remained since the 1950s. Its identity is unknown, although experts believe it dates from 1908 and was built by Milnes Voss. The tram body will be recovered and displayed at Dundee Museum of Transport’s new home in the former Maryfield Tram Depot, due to open in 2027. It will join preserved horse tramcar 24.
The next round-up will be published on Friday, 2nd October. 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
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