Light Rail summit in Dudley marks Better Transport Week

12 June 2023

Light Years Ahead: future prospects for UK light Rail will explore the vital importance and potential of light rail in the UK. The event will showcase work being done at BCIMO and Coventry Very Light Rail and learn from Scandinavia’s light rail experience courtesy of guest speaker Hans Cruse Director of Spårvagnsstäderna.

Attendees will also hear about case studies from light rail stakeholders and innovators across the UK with guest speakers including Nick Mallinson, Director of Business and Innovation at BCIMO; Matt Johnston, Director of Product at Mainspring; Nicola Small, Senior CVLR Programme Manager, Coventry City Council; Gordon Pratt, Managing Director of Thames Gateway; and James Hammett, Managing Director, UK Tram.

After a question-and-answer session with the panel, invitees will tour the newly opened Very Light Rail Innovation Centre including the facility’s 2.2km test track and light rail simulator.

Light Years Ahead: future prospects for UK light Rail is part of Better Transport Week, which runs from 12 to 18 June and aims to promote the wide range of benefits of public transport, shared mobility, walking and cycling to the public and encourage more people to travel sustainably.

The week-long celebration of sustainable transport has been launched by Campaign for Better Transport to celebrate its 50^th year of campaigning.

Michael Solomon Williams from Campaign for Better Transport said: “Light rail is key in a well-integrated public transport system, as shown by the success of trams in cities like Nottingham and Manchester. The exciting development of very light rail offers the chance for even more cities to install high-quality, green-light rail systems that work alongside buses and trains. Better Transport Week is the perfect time to champion the benefits of light rail and share best practice.”

Matt Johnston, Director of Product at Mainspring, said: “Light Rail has proven benefits as has been witnessed in the cities which already operate LRT systems. These range from improving connectivity and accessibility across urban areas, to regenerating city centres and boosting land prices, to supporting the local economy through employment opportunities and, as they are net zero at the point of use, helping to protect the environment for generations to come. Mainspring are delighted to be able lend their expertise and experience within the light rail sector to Better Transport Week and to encourage more cities and towns to explore the many benefits of this mode of transportation for themselves.”

Nick Mallinson, Director of Business and Innovation at BCIMO, said: “Light rail offers an effective means to accelerate modal shift in cities as already demonstrated in Europe. The UK needs lower cost light rail solutions to encourage wider take up, and its application to the levelling up of public transport solutions in the less affluent areas of the UK.”

Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Coventry’s cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change said: “Coventry Very Light Rail has the potential to change the way that people travel in small to medium sized cities. Our revolutionary track form which enables most services to remain in place means it’s faster and cheaper to install – bringing costs down to about £10 million per kilometre.

“Our battery-powered, zero emission vehicle can also turn much tighter corners – which makes it the perfect fit for urban environments. Now all we need to make this a reality is for government procedures to catch up with the speed that Coventry is innovating.”

Book your place at Light Years Ahead: future prospects for UK light Rail.

ENDS

For further information please contact the press office on 07984 773 468 (calls only no texts) or communications@bettertransport.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. Light Years Ahead: future prospects for UK light Rail takes place on Wednesday 14 June from 14:30 to 17:30 at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO), Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre, Zoological Drive, Dudley, DY1 4AW. For more information or to book a place visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/light-years-ahead-tickets-647945882577?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
2. Better Transport Week runs from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 June and aims to promote public transport, shared mobility and active travel to mark the transport charity’s 50^th year of campaigning. Wednesday 14 June is local Transport Day, celebrating the transport we use day in day out. For more information visit the Better Transport Week webpage.
3. Read the full list of Better Transport Week partners here.
4. Campaign for Better Transport was founded as Transport 2000 on 6 February 1973. 2023 marks its 50^th year of campaigning for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and protects the environment. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929) which operates in England and Wales.