This week marked the third occasion I have been in the North East during the past six weeks and every time I go over the Tyne, I am blown away by the stunning bridges that span this famous river and the amazing architecture of the buildings that hug its banks.

I was visiting Gateshead for the 17th annual UK Light Rail Conference, which is attended by those that build, operate and maintain light rail networks in both the UK and abroad. As someone who is more used to using light rail systems rather than understanding the mechanics of how they run, it was an eye opener. The effort and expertise that goes into building and running these systems is immense.

I also learnt more about how integrated and transformative tram and light rail networks are within our city regions and local areas.

The majority of Urban Transport Group’s members have, or are in the process of having, light rail systems in their local areas, and it was great to see three of our Board members advocating the benefits of such schemes.

Appropriately – given the location of the conference - Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director of Transport North East, spoke about how the Tyne and Wear Metro is part of the DNA of the region. This is especially so as it is locally owned and operated, and is a major employer. Its £362m fleet of 46 new trains will increase frequency and capacity across the system, and a proposed Washington loop of the Metro would create an additional 8 million passenger journeys and generate £90m a year in economic benefits to the region.

Anne Shaw, Executive Director of Transport for West Midlands, and our Vice Chair, talked about how the tram system in the West Midlands was ‘monumental’ in the region’s transport plan for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which saw over a million spectators, athletes and officials descend on the city. She also spoke about how the three West Midlands Metro expansion projects currently under construction would further transform the region, and how Coventry is a global leader in the development of Very Light Rail (VLR), which is currently being tested.

Pat Beijer, Executive Director of Transport for South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, gave a brilliant overview of the ambition of the region to reinvigorate the tram network – which also boasts the UK’s first tram-train – when it is brought under public control from March 2024. She emphasised the challenges of operating over 2,500 services a week, maintaining 29km of track and associated infrastructure, and serving 12 million passengers a year. Exciting times ahead!

There was also discussion of the transformational impact of light rail systems in relation to Greater Manchester, referencing recent work from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP). It said the Metrolink tram network has played a pivotal role in transforming the city region’s economic fortunes since it opened in 1992, driving up wages and productivity (as well as house prices close to tram stops).

What was clear from the presentations of Tobyn, Anne, Pat and others during the day, is the passion they all have for delivering world-class light rail systems that sit in an integrated transport network, and which support the wider goals of their local places, from decarbonisation to levelling up. And it is this very point that is at the heart of the matter for transport authorities up and down the country.

Investing in good transport, whether it be light rail, bus, train or active travel infrastructure, is vital if we want to create vibrant economies and thriving places – which connect people to work, younger generations to education, or help families to bond.

So, as I reflect on the excellent conference, I am proud of the work that colleagues across the industry are doing to help us make connections with each other, in and around our local areas.

Jason Prince is Director of the Urban Transport Group

Urban Transport Group sponsored the UK Light Rail Conference