Stephen Edwards has been appointed as the new Chair of UKTram, the organisation that represents the country’s light rail sector. Stephen joins the organisation with a successful background in strategic development, business planning and operations management, most recently as Executive Director and Director General of South Yorkshire PTE.
Managing Director of UKTram, James Hammett, commented on the appointment: “We are delighted that Stephen has agreed to take on the role as our organisation looks towards further growth and the delivery of an ambitious strategy for the future of light rail in the UK. Under previous Chairs, UKTram has gone from strength to strength. Stephen’s appointment will help drive the further evolution of the organisation as we strive to deliver even more benefits for members.
“His broad experience and extensive contacts will also prove invaluable as we step up efforts to promote tramways and similar transit systems as the most effective way to improve urban connectivity while reducing pollution and congestion and driving inward investment.”
Stephen joined the SYPTE in 2015 and in that time was instrumental in securing over £1 billion funding from central government for a wide range of projects. He’s led the promotion of the organisation across a diverse stakeholder group, acting as an ambassador and effectively representing it at a local, regional and national level with government departments, the Transport Commissioner, commercial transport operators and other formal bodies and organisations.
Upon his appoint Stephen said: “The case for light rail gets stronger by the day as we face the challenges of climate change and an increasing need to improve urban connectivity as a means to driving economic growth. I’m particularly looking forward to working with the UKTram team and colleagues from across the wider light rail sector to help remove the barriers to the future expansion of existing systems and proposed new tramways as part of the fully integrated public transport networks of the future.”
During his time at the SYPTE he has delivered a range of capital projects including the UK’s first tram-train service out to Rotherham and a £200 million asset renewal project. Recently he has been involved in the integration of SYPTE into the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
James Hammett concluded: ““In addition to welcoming Stephen to the role of Chair, on behalf of the board and our members, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lindsay Murphy, who has held the position on an interim basis, for all her hard work and support over the past few months.”