The most recent meeting of the UKTram Heritage Tramway Committee took place online at the end of January 2026, as updates were given across several priority workstreams supporting the safe and sustainable operation of heritage tramways.
Key discussions during the session focused on safety management and shared learning following recent ORR/HMRI inspections, with the Committee continuing to develop a common “centre of excellence” approach to addressing sector-wide issues.
There were also updates on the successful progression of the Heritage Railways and Tramways (Voluntary Work) provisions, which have now been incorporated into the Employment Rights Act.
There has also been progress on updated guidance for the operation of horse trams, alongside ongoing technical work on wheel flange standards and early development of a peer audit approach between heritage tramways.
Skills and training was also a major talking point, with plans progressing for a new low-height OLE training facility at the National Tramway Museum, being developed in collaboration with UKTram, which has the aim of supporting heritage and potentially second-generation tramway operators.
The Heritage Tramway Committee is continuing to play a central role in supporting consistency and shared learning across the sector. The meetings have strong engagement from across the heritage sector, and includes regular attendance from operators, the Isle of Man tramways and representative from both the Office of Rail and Road and Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate.
The next meeting of the Committee will be in person on 20th April 2026 in Birmingham.
It would be interesting to see who is on this committee as there are very positive trends in the report. Safety is a given, but ‘sustainable’ is the real challenge. I also welcome the guidance update for horse trams (though I have yet to read it).
One cannot help feeling curious as to what they had to say about Blackpool’s dual system. Maybe they remained cautiously silent on the matter for now, who knows? It is encouranging, however, that such discussions take place given the number of heritage tram operations within the UK and the growing presence of preserved trams at certain museums. Health and safety is never to be taken lightly and it has to be better to adopt a belt and braces approach rather than overlook even the most remote risk. After all, experience along the promenade at Blackpool would suggest that the public often need protecting against themselves