Although not part of the UK, Dublin’s Luas tram system is a member of UKTram and they were recently the latest hosts for the Light Rail Operators Committee (LROC) for a meeting which was hosted by Transdev Ireland (operators of Luas).
The session once again included a packed agenda covering everything from anti-social behaviour, system upgrades, passenger engagement to operational resilience.
There were also updates on projects such as Luas expansion plans, Cardiff Crossrail progress, Nottingham Express Transit’s Operation Safenet and a recruitment drive at West Midlands Metro.
During the meeting Luas presented impressive ridership figures, with passenger numbers now exceeding pre-2020 levels by 12%. Weekday passenger numbers have now reached 137,000 journeys. They have recently introduced a timetable upgrade which has seen an increased frequency and made it more operationally resilient. There are also plans to extend the network to Finglas and Poolbeg and elsewhere in Ireland they hope to launch a network in Cork.
Innovation across UK light rail networks also continues with West Midlands Metro discussing the successful rollout of its Operational Control Centre simulator and Signals Passed at Stop driver training aids, while Edinburgh discussed their investment in branding and tap-on, tap-off success.
Steve Mabey, Chair of LROC and Head of Operational Planning and Delivery at KeolisAmey Metrolink, said: “As operators, we each face unique local pressures, but what continues to stand out is the remarkable alignment in our aspirations and the common ground we find in areas such as safety, service delivery, innovation and driving growth on networks. These discussions reaffirm the strength of our collaborative approach and the value in sharing ideas and experience across borders.
“I remain continually impressed with the openness and support shown between group members. This spirit of partnership is what drives positive change in our sector and ensures we can collectively shape a more sustainable, customer-focused future for light rail.
“A sincere thank you goes to our hosts, Transdev Luas, for their warm hospitality and for showcasing the excellent work being done in Dublin. Their commitment to excellence provided the perfect backdrop for a highly productive meeting.”
The next LROC meeting will take place in Birmingham ahead of the 2025 UKTram Summit. It has been agreed that rostering will be the key focus theme.