Tram

The return of the tram to our city streets has been a major success story. Find out how we are working to bring the benefits of modern light rail systems to more of our urban centres.

Leading light - what light rail can do for city regions

Light rail is now playing a bigger role in the life of British towns and cities than since the heyday of urban tram systems between the First and Second World Wars.

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Light rail briefing

What is light rail and why should we build light rail schemes? Our briefing answers key questions on this high capacity, fast, frequent and cost effective mode of transport.

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How we work on light rail

Tom Ellerton is the Urban Transport Group's lead staff member on light rail.

We work with UKTram as the lead UK national body for all aspects of tram and light rail development and operation. Our Light Rail group focuses on overarching light rail funding and policy issues.

Public transport’s funding crisis – and how to fix it

March 2023

This short read briefing gives an overview of the current funding challenges faced by local public transport and what Government should do to address them.

The role of LRT during and after the pandemic

May 2021

This factsheet sets out examples and statistics on the key role that light rail has played in getting key workers where they need to be during the pandemic and the essential role it will have in building back better afterwards.

Continuing COVID Funding Support for Urban Public Transport

February 2022

This report finds that if Government’s Covid-related financial support to urban public transport outside London ends (in March 2022), buses would soon be less frequent and more expensive, and patronage would be substantially lower than pre-Covid levels, potentially up to 30% lower.

Resources for this topic

View documents, reports and other material.

Report

Urban Public Transport Funding - Options for Reform

February 2023

This report, produced by consultants Steer for the Urban Transport Group, explores the options for reforming local public transport funding.

The report also considers the implications of ending covid-related bus funding in April 2023, warning that bus services could be reduced and fares increased as a result.

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Report

Future Streets: Challenges and opportunities

September 2022

Streets are often the most contested spaces in any town or city. There are a large number and wide variety of calls on street space (at least 160 legitimate calls), and they simply can’t all be met. This report seeks to help local highway and strategic transport authorities rise to the challenge of better street and kerbside management.

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Report

Continuing COVID Funding Support for Urban Public Transport

February 2022

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Report

Leading Light: What Light Rail can do for City Regions

October 2021

This report, produced by Steer for the Urban Transport Group, shows how Britain’s light rail systems have supported economic growth in the areas that they serve, promoted social inclusion and led to environmental gain, including a reduction in carbon emissions.

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Report

Building back better on urban transport

June 2021

In this paper we set out how, with the right policy framework from Government, we can meet the challenge of ramping up public transport and prioritising cycling and walking to support a green and just recovery.

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Report

The Covid-19 Funding Gap: The Case for Continuing Support for Urban Public Transport

September 2020

This report, produced by transport consultancy Steer for the Urban Transport Group, warns that the future of local public transport services is at serious risk without continued COVID-19 financial support from Government.

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Report

Number crunch 2019: Urban transport trends in changing times

June 2019

This is the second in our Number crunch report series and provides an updated overview of the key trends over the last ten years, as well as taking a look at what the new and most recent data is telling us.

We are living in rapidly changing times. Big shifts are taking place in urban transport trends.

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Report

The place to be: How transit oriented development can support good growth in the city regions

January 2019

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Report

Policy futures for urban transport

September 2018

The latest edition of Policy futures for urban transport emphasises how a new deal on funding and powers is essential to keep the UK's cities moving forward.

The report sets out the 10 key policy changes that are needed to make cities healthier, fairer and more prosperous.

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Report

Number crunch: Transport trends in the city regions

April 2018

This report identifies some of the most defining patterns of the past decade (and projected future trends) that are changing the face of the UK’s city regions, and the way that people travel within them.

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Report

Horizon scan of implications of technological and social change

November 2015

This report aims to provide decision makers with a guide to the implications for urban transport of transformative social and technological change and how they can best respond.

The report (which was produced in collaboration with Arup Foresight) identifies four key overarching trends:

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Report

Light Rail and the City Regions Inquiry - Final Report

February 2010

Report setting out the findings of the All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group/pteg Light Rail and the City Regions Inquiry. The report includes a suite of recommendations for national government, local transport authorities and the light rail sector based on evidence submitted to the Inquiry.

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Report

Advice note for promoters considering a light rail scheme

July 2009

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Report

What light rail can do for cities

February 2005

This report sets out the case for investing in light rail. It is based on a detailed review of the available evidence held by the promoters of schemes in the UK looking at the benefits that have been delivered so far and how these have been achieved.

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Report

Lessons from French tram schemes

January 2004

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Press release

New approach needed to take the conflict out of the streets of the future, urges report

September 2022

There are at least 160 legitimate calls on street space and they cannot all be met. A new report from Urban Movement for the Urban Transport Group calls for a fresh approach to remove the conflict from the competing demands for street space.

Press release

Urban Transport Group welcomes Government’s extension of COVID funding for public transport

March 2022

The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the announcement that Government will extend its COVID funding support for local transport for a further six months.

Press release

Protect and expand Britain’s light rail systems to aid city regions’ recovery from COVID pandemic, urges report

October 2021

Britain’s light rail systems are instrumental in supporting economic growth, promoting social inclusion and achieving environmental gains (including a reduction in carbon emissions) in the urban areas that they serve.

Press release

Tram and light rail providers welcome new Covid funding package

July 2021

The Urban Transport Group, which represents the transport authorities responsible for tram and light rail systems in the English city regions, has today welcomed a new £56 million funding package from Government for tram and light rail systems outside London.

Press release

New report commissioned to highlight key role of light rail in city region COVID-19 recovery

July 2021

The Urban Transport Group has commissioned a new report, from transport consultancy Steer, which will provide a comprehensive analysis and summary of the benefits of light rail as a mode, as well as setting out the economic, environmental and social benefits that UK tram and light rail systems have brought.

Press release

Urban transport authorities welcome extension of COVID light rail funding support

June 2021

The Urban Transport Group today welcomed the extension by one month (from June 21st to July 19th) of funding from Government to close the gap caused by loss of patronage due to the pandemic.

Press release

City regions welcome continued emergency light rail funding

March 2021

The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed continued emergency funding for light rail systems outside London, but stressed that longer term funding will be needed whilst public transport recovers from the pandemic.

Press release

Urban Transport Group brings together past and present Nexus leaders to celebrate 40 years of Tyne and Wear Metro at special event

February 2021

The Urban Transport Group is bringing together the former boss of Nexus (the public body which operates the Tyne and Wear Metro) Mike Parker and its current Director General Tobyn Hughes for a special event to celebrate 40 years of the unique and pioneering light rail system.

Press release

City regions must be “at the heart” of Government’s Green Industrial Revolution

November 2020

The Urban Transport Group, the UK’s network of city region transport authorities, has today responded to the Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.

Press release

Tram and light rail authorities respond to Government statement on further funding support

October 2020

The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the Government’s announcement of further COVID19 funding support for tram and light rail systems in England outside London.

Press release

Report paints stark picture for future of bus and tram services without continued Government COVID-19 support

September 2020

The future of local public transport services is at serious risk - including the potential for deep cuts to bus services and the temporary closure of light rail systems - without continued COVID-19 financial support from Government, according to a new report.

Press release

Empower urban transport authorities to build back better from COVID-19, urges report

September 2020

Transport authorities can play their part in shaping a positive legacy of COVID-19 for the UK’s city regions, provided they are given both the funding and powers they need to respond to the challenges that lie ahead.

Press release

City regions respond to Government’s COVID-19 funding for urban public transport

August 2020

The Urban Transport Group, the UK’s network of city region transport authorities, has today responded to the Government’s package of financial support for urban public transport as it works to keep people moving through the COVID-19 crisis.

Press release

Changing travel habits in UK’s cities revealed in new data report

June 2019

Fewer commutes per person, reduced car use in major urban centres and rapidly falling bus patronage – these are just some of the transport trends taking place in the UK’s biggest cities and city regions, as identified in the Urban Transport Group’s latest data report.

Press release

National Infrastructure Commission is right to make devolved transport funding for cities a key test for Government’s future infrastructure plan

May 2019

The National Infrastructure Commission’s call for Government to make devolved funding for urban transport to cities a key test of the Government’s forthcoming National Infrastructure Strategy is hugely welcome, says the Urban Transport Group.

Press release

South Yorkshire transport chief is new Chair of Urban Transport Group

January 2019

Stephen Edwards, the Executive Director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), is the new Chair of the Urban Transport Group.

Press release

‘Transit oriented development’ can help meet housing demand and reduce car-based urban sprawl, says report

January 2019

Placing transport at the heart of new building developments will help the UK to meet its demand for new homes and prevent car-based urban sprawl, a report from the Urban Transport Group says today.

Press release

Leading urban transport data tool relaunches with expansive range of new statistics

December 2018

The country’s leading online tool for transport data in cities has been relaunched today to include an even wider range of transport-related statistics, such as congestion, road safety and satisfaction.

Press release

Transport crucial to achieving Government’s ‘Prevention is better than cure’ vision

November 2018

The Urban Transport Group has today welcomed the Department of Health and Social Care’s ‘Prevention is better than cure’ vision, whilst also highlighting the crucial role that transport will play in achieving it.

Press release

Transport key to ‘putting towns back on the map’, says report

November 2018

Transport has a key role to play in helping the UK’s post-industrial towns to thrive – putting them firmly back on the map, a report by the Urban Transport Group finds today.

Press release

New deal on funding and powers essential to keep cities moving forward, stresses Urban Transport Group

September 2018

Further devolution of rail services, greater funding for buses and reform of taxi and Private Hire Vehicle legislation – these are just three parts of a new deal on funding and powers that is required to keep the UK’s cities moving forward.

Press release

Dramatic shifts in transport trends of UK cities, revealed in new report

April 2018

Ageing urban populations, rapid bus passenger decline and huge growth in private hire vehicles are just some of the dramatic shifts taking place in UK cities, a new report from the Urban Transport Group reveals today.

Press release

New ‘Horizon Scan’ report sets out how forward thinking cities can respond to rapid technological and social change

November 2015

A new report from pteg aims to provide city decision makers with a guide to the implications for urban transport of transformative social and technological change and how they can best respond.

Press release

pteg welcomes Baker's Tram Report

September 2011

Commenting on the report ‘Green Light for Light Rail' (launched yesterday by local transport Minister Norman Baker) Jonathan Bray, Director of pteg, said:

Press release

pteg welcomes tram-train pilot go-ahead

March 2011

Chair of pteg Geoff Inskip said: 'We welcome Norman Baker's support for the tram-train pilot scheme..."

Press release

pteg welcomes MPs’ tram report

February 2010

Welcoming the publication today of the findings of the pteg supported All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group inquiry into Light Rail and the City Regions, Geoff Inskip (lead Director General for pteg on light rail issues) said...

Press release

MPs call for leadership to get trams back on more city streets

February 2010

A cross-party Parliamentary inquiry (supported by pteg) into the future of light rail has found that light rail and modern tram schemes can help transform urban transport systems as well as the wider urban realm, promoting greener, smarter economic growth in the process.

Press release

Tram inquiry continues

November 2009

The joint, select committee-style inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group and pteg holds its second hearing today at Westminster after getting off to a strong start with its first hearing, held on 27th Oct.

Press release

Tram inquiry gets underway

October 2009

The joint inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group (APPLRG) and pteg will hold its first hearing on Tuesday 27th October at the House of Commons.

The Chair of the inquiry, Paul Rowen MP, today said:

Press release

pteg and MPs group launch inquiry into getting tram schemes moving

September 2009

Today pteg and the All-Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group (APPLRG) announced a select committee style inquiry into the prospects for modern trams in the UK and how barriers to tram scheme development and implementation can be tackled.

Press release

Joint call for trams to be treated fairly

July 2009

As the Government revises its major scheme business case guidance, Campaign for Better Transport and pteg have called for an end to the discrimination against trams.

Press release

pteg sets out agenda on where next for UK light rail

June 2008

Speaking at the well attended All Party Light Rail Group’s Parliamentary reception last night, Geoff Inskip set out the perspective of Britain’s big city transport authorities on where next for modern trams and light rail in the UK.

Press release

PTEs and TfL reaffirm commitment to the tram

March 2006

Launching a new brochure on ‘what modern trams can do for cities’, Britain’s largest bloc of tram promoters – TfL and pteg – today, reaffirmed their commitment to developing and promoting tram schemes.

Press release

PTAs respond to Government tram decisions

December 2005

Responding to the recent decision by the Government to refuse funding for new tram schemes in Leeds, Merseyside and South Hampshire, Cllr Mark Dowd, Chair of the PTA special interest group (which brings together leading councillors from all seven of the UK’s PTAs), said...

Press release

PTAs respond to Government tram decisions

December 2005

Press release

pteg welcomes Public Accounts Committee light rail report

April 2005

The UK’s largest bloc of light rail promoters has welcomed a report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee into the future of light rail.

Press release

Select Committee puts light rail back on track

April 2005

The UK’s largest bloc of light rail promoters gave its wholehearted backing today to a new report from the House of Commons Transport Select Committee on the future of light rail and modern trams.

Press release

New report finds the tram beats the bus for getting people out of their cars

February 2005

New light rail schemes are far better at attracting motorists and cutting congestion than improvements to bus services, according to a new report, launched by pteg.

Press release

pteg backs UKTram

November 2004

A new National Tramways Forum, "UKTram" has been established following discussions between pteg, Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), Light Rapid Transit Forum (LRTF) and TfL London Trams (LT).

Press release

We must learn from the French on tram schemes

June 2004

‘Significant shifts in government policy, funding and legislation’ are required if new UK tram schemes are to emulate the success of their French counterparts, says a new report - Lessons from French tram schemes - published today by pteg.

Press release

National Audit Office report on light rail ‘the way forward’ for next generation of schemes

April 2004

pteg today welcomed the findings of the National Audit Office (NAO) report published today on ‘Improving public transport in England through light rail’.

Press release

pteg commissions new research on ‘case for light rail’

April 2004

pteg has commissioned consultants Steer Davies Gleave to review the transport, economic, environmental and safety benefits of light rail and tram schemes.

Consultation response

Submission to Spring Budget 2023

February 2023

Consulting body

HM Treasury

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Consultation response

Allowing non-physical guided transport modes to be authorised by a Transport and Works Act order

May 2022

Consulting body

Department for Transport

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Consultation response

Submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2021

September 2021

Consulting body

HM Treasury

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Consultation response

Submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2020

September 2020

Consulting body

HM Treasury

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Consultation response

Public transport ticketing

March 2007

Consulting body

Transport Select Committee

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Consultation response

Draft guidance for local authority promoters considering a light rail scheme - pteg supporting letter

March 2007

Consulting body

Department for Transport

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Consultation response

Draft guidance for local authority promoters considering a light rail scheme - UK Tram joint response

March 2007

Consulting body

Department for Transport

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Consultation response

Proposal for a regulation on public passenger transport services by road and by rail

January 2006

Consulting body

Department for Transport

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Consultation response

Future of light rail and modern trams in Britain

February 2005

Consulting body

Transport Select Committee

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Briefing

Changing travel habits and what they mean for future transport trends

April 2023

This briefing explores some of the background factors that are driving current transport trends, and what these might mean for the patronage recovery moving forwards.

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Briefing

Public transport’s funding crisis – and how to fix it

March 2023

This short read briefing gives an overview of the current funding challenges faced by local public transport and what Government should do to address them.

Read more Download file

Briefing

Key urban transport challenges and opportunities for the new Government

September 2022

The short briefing set out the priorities that the new Prime Minister should address in order to keep the UK’s urban areas moving.

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Briefing

Briefing on Light Rail

September 2022

This briefing on Light Rail Systems answers some of the most frequently asked questions about this mode of transport, and presents the benefits that Light Rail can bring.

This updated briefing on Light Rail Systems answers some of the most frequently asked questions about this mode of transport, and presents the benefits that Light Rail can bring.

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Briefing

The threat to public transport in the city regions

February 2022

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Briefing

The role of LRT during and after the pandemic

May 2021

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Briefing

Tram-trains - From suburban station to the heart of the city

July 2012

This brochure (produced when the Urban Transport Group was known as pteg) explains the key features of tram-trains, their potential, their use in Europe and plans for tram-trains in the UK.

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