Light rail funding welcomed by sector safety body

Carl Williams also says that the LRSSB will ensure that safety remains a top priority when planning, designing and constructing new schemes or extending current networks.

“Clearly, the government’s funding commitments represent a welcome step forward for light rail, and we stand ready to build on the excellent work that’s already been done to ensure it remains one of the safest modes of public transport,” he said.

“In recent years, huge strides have been made in further reducing the risk of accidents on UK tramways, and the recognition of light rail’s vital role in meeting the country’s future transport needs underlines the importance of having a dedicated and dynamic safety body as the sector enters a new era.”

Further details of the funding announcement, which includes support for the expansion of systems in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, the North East and East Midlands – alongside a new mass transit scheme in West Yorkshire and the modernisation of the existing South Yorkshire system – can be found here.