UK Schemes

Sheffield Supertram - Sheffield

Sheffield Supertram serves three light rail routes covering 29km. The network links five park and ride sites and gives easy access to various sites within the busy town centre. It was originally publicly owned and operated, but since being operated and maintained by Stagecoach, it is known as Stagecoach Supertram. The total system length is 18 miles, with 25 trams serving 48 stops. German manufacturers, Duewag built the trams and an overhead trolley wire supplies their power. The project was completed in 1995, after securing finance from Central Government in the late 1990s.

Nottingham Express Transit - Nottingham

Midland Metro - Birmingham and West Midlands

In 1999 the £145 million Midland Metro was opened, promoted by both Centro and the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority. Government and European grants, an approved loan and various Councils funded the scheme, as well as contributions from Centro, the West Midland Passenger Transport Authority and ALTRAM. Behind the fleet of 16 trams, John Laing plc were responsible for the construction of the track, stops and buildings, whilst ALTRAM designed, constructed and operated Midland Metro Line One. Line One is 12½ miles long, serves 23 stops and runs on mainly reserved track, using both a rail alignment and some on-street running. There are future extensions planned.

Metrolink - Greater Manchester

In July 2006, the Secretary of State for Transport, Douglas Alexander MP confirmed that the Phase 3a expansion of Manchester's Metrolink tram system would go ahead. A total of £640m million is being invested in the expansion and improvement of the network, set to double the Metrolink in size. The first stage of development will provide service in Oldham, Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside and Chorlton in South Manchester. The second phase will take Metrolink into town centres and Manchester airport.? Despite financial setbacks that occurred in 2004 over the initial plans of the Metrolink, the Secretary of State for Transport has now released the final part of the £520m budget. GMPTE have offered to put in the rest, around £300m to secure the estimated total cost of £900m. By 2009, eight new trams are expected to begin operating, covering nearly 60 miles, with the prospect of 45 million passenger trips and taking 10 million car journeys off the road. A bid for the second stage of the Metrolink expansion, Phase 3b is being submitted to the Government's Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) in July 2007, with a decision to be announced in December 2007.

Docklands Light Railway - East and South London

In 1987, the Docklands Light Railway was set up covering only 10 miles of route. It has since been extended four times, central to the redevelopment of the London Docklands and East London. It now has extensions to Bank in the City, Beckton and New Woolwich in the east, Lewisham in the south and London City Airport. It has also rebuilt all the original stations so they can now accommodate longer trains. The DLR is presently 20 miles long, served by 93 trains and operated under Automatic Train Operation. It currently carries around 55 million passengers and has expectations of carrying 80 million by 2009.

Croydon Tramlink - Croydon and South London

The Croydon Tramlink, opened in May 2000, covers over 28km and carries 22 million passengers a year in South London.

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Bombardier in Austria built the 24 trams, which serve 39 stops. London Trams, under the 99-year Concession Agreement, is responsible for managing the tram services in Croydon and also provides the link between Tramtrack Croydon Ltd and Transport for London. Tramtrack Croydon Ltd was awarded the concession under the Government's Private Finance Initiative in 1996.

Read more: Croydon Tramlink - Croydon and South London

Blackpool - Blackpool and Fleetwood

Blackpool opened the first electric tramway of the country in 1885. It initially served Blackpool Promenade but when it was taken over by Blackpool Corporation in 1892 they expanded it to much of the Flyde coast and towns inland.

Read more: Blackpool - Blackpool and Fleetwood