The tramways and supporting companies which are up for an award in the Global Light Rail Awards 2026 have been announced with the UK well represented on the list of operators nominated.
We don’t actually know who is nominated for which award as the shortlist just lists the companies and the awards which will be won on the night but that does reveal that there is the following UK interest:
Blackpool Transport
Coventry City Council, Transport for West Midlands and Mott MacDonald
Edinburgh Trams
KeolisAmey Docklands
KeolisAmey Metrolink
Light Rail Safety and Standards Board
London Trams & First Tram Operations
London Trams (TfL)
Midland Metro Alliance
Nexus
Nottingham Trams
South Yorkshire Supertram
UKTram
Volker Rail, Sika, AtkinsRealis and London Trams
West Midlands Metro
It may actually have been easier to say who hasn’t been nominated as that seems to cover every single system in the UK!
Although the official release of the shortlist doesn’t mention what has been nominated in each category (just because an operator is shown in the above list doesn’t mean they are up for Operator of the Year!), some tramways often give more information and that is the case again this year.
West Midlands Metro have confirmed they have been nominated for UK Operator of the Year, Significant Safety Initiative, Team of the Year (the Learning and Development Team), Employee of the Year (Revenue Supervisor, Matthew Brittain) and Rising Star of the Year (Dale Bayliss, Infrastructure Permanent Way Team Leader).
Sophie Allison, Managing Director of West Midlands Metro, said: “We’re thrilled to be so well represented at these high-profile awards that celebrate excellence across the light rail sector. As we look forward to launching services to new destinations, including Dudley, this recognition reflects the continued commitment and dedication of the entire Metro team in delivering a safe and reliable service for customers.”
The Global Light Rail Awards will take place at the Battersea Arts Centre on Wednesday 7th October 2026.