Not-For-Profit UK Based Light Rail Transit Association
The LRTA is a not–for–profit UK based organisation and has members throughout the world. Free of any trade or political affiliation; it is the world’s leading organisation concerned with the achievement of better public transport through light rail, tramway and metro systems in towns and cities world–wide.
Tramways & Urban Transit — T&UT
T&UT is published on the third Friday of each month. It has news and features from around the world about urban transit developments and the latest information about tramways and light rail.
Tramway Review
Our historical quarterly is available with membership or as a stand alone subscription.
Why you should join the LRTA
Want to see integrated environmentally sustainable public transport in our towns and cities then you should join the LRTA — the more members the more effective we can be in campaigning for the introduction of trams and light rail.
Every month, members receive T&UT free as part of their membership. There is now a choice of a printed version delivered by post or online versions of the magazine. Postal members can also access the online version.
Membership includes access to the LRTA e–Group; a YAHOO group. You can join online at the LRTA shop by clicking the Discussion Group item on the join/renewals page. Alternatively to join please e–mail groups@lrta.org; include your full name, membership number and post/zip code to ease the task of checking membership.
Members also have access to a Members Area which enables members to read the magazine on-line plus a selection of internal documents not available to the general public including a special guide to campaigning. When logged in a members discount is available on books and DVDs. To access go to the LRTA shop and create/log in to your account. Email OLM@lrta.org if Members Area not visible.
See How to join the LRTA page for more details.US and Canadian Visitors; feeling starved of up–to–date North American transit news? T&UT carries the breaking news stories each month in the most comprehensive and timely coverage now available.
Special Membership Offer
We are offering 3 months free digital trial membership to potential new members see Special Offer for further information.
Members’ Day – East Anglia Transport Museum – Carlton Colville nr Lowestoft
Our next Member’s Day is proposed to be held at the East Anglia Transport Museum in Carlton Colvile near Lowestoft towards the end of July 2025. The actual date is to be confirmed with the Museum.
The Museum has a variety of Trams and a narrow gauge light railway as well as historinc trolley and diesel buses. A well pesented history of public transport. For more information see their website or their facebook page. The nearest railway station is Lowestoft and there are buses and taxis available to the Museum.
So that we can determine the level of support for this proposed Members’ Day, please email membersday@lrta.org to express your interest.
Members Weekend on the Isle of Man
We are arranging a Members Weekend on the Isle of Man from 24th to 27th October 2025
Friday 24th October.
Arrival day but please note that the MER and horse tram do not operate today; however, the steam railway is operating.
Saturday 25th October
10h00, depot visits to both the horse tram and MER Derby Castle. Free time to ride the horse tram and travel to Snaefell Summit.
Sunday 26th October
We have a private charter on MER departing at 09h55 from Derby Castle. We will call at Laxey for a shed visit to see the stored cars and then continue to Ramsey making some photo stops on the way.
Then by bus to Jurby to the Transport Museum with an opportunity for an optional lunch break at the Guard House Café. Retuning to Ramsey departing 14h30. Leaving at 15h20 from Ramsey by tram to arrive back in Derby Castle at dusk. A little time for nighttime photographs.
Private dinner at the Regency Hotel with a talk after dinner on the IOM Tramways by Andrew Scarffe.
Monday 27th October
The steam railway is operating today. Travel home.
For more information and booking form goto Members Isle of Man Weekend
Update on Blackpool Heritage Trams
Next Steps for Heritage Tram Operations and Preservation Outlined by Jane Cole
A Statement has been released by LRTA Past President and MD of Blackpool Transport, Jane Cole, concerning the future of the Blackpool Heritage Tram operations.
See Statement on News page
Annual General Meeting – 2024
The 2024 AGM was held on Friday 27th September at the Novotel in Charleroi, Belgium.and on Zoom.
The post of Treasurer and three ordinary Council Members were up for election. See the AGM page for further details and deadlines.
Following the AGM on the Friday there was an evening reception at the Bois du Cazier Museum, commencing with a guided tour of the specialist tram exhibition and on the Saturday night the Annual dinner was held at the Novotel.
On the Saturday and Sunday (28-29 September) there were two excursions.
On Saturday there was a visit to the Tramway de l’Aisne (110km/68.4 miles), featured in a classic trams article in the November 2023 issue of TAUT. The line from Pont d’Erezee via Forge a la Plez to Lamormenil is operated by Vicinal autorail and trailers. There is also a small museum at Pont d’Erezee.
The AGM weekend concluded on the Sunday (29 September) with a visit to the ASVi Museum at Thuin (21km/13 miles) and a ride on the line to Lobbes also featured in another TAUT article.
Go to AGM 2024 for full details
The Tramcar will Return
Well known member and author Tony Young has just published his autobiography, entitled ‘The Tramcar will Return’. Tony has dedicated the book to “’to all those members of the LRTA and TLRS who have kept alive the spirit of tramways and light rail systems in British towns and cities and to those professionals and politicians who have made it happen.’ A full review of the book will appear in our historical magazine ‘Tramway Review’.
See News item for more information.
Trams – The Green Machine – General Election Campaign 2024
For nearly 80 years the LRTA has promoted the development of modern trams and light rail. Climate change is real and all political parties are in theory committed to net zero. The LRTA wants to see the next government invest in transport solutions which are 100% Clean and Green.
We believe a MINIMUM of 5 Light Rail Schemes should be developed in the next Parliament and are asking Parliamentary Candidates to pledge to support up to 5 tram schemes in the next Parliament and join a reconstituted All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group.
For full details see our General Election 2024 pages.
LRTA Members’ Online Meetings continue
The series of online discussions and presentations using the Zoom platform started in response to the pandemic have proved so popular with members around the world that we will be continuing with them. These are open to all LRTA Members and and are held monthly, usually on the third Wednesday of each month at 16.00 (UK Time). This is quite a commitment for the Association and any member worldwide who would like to present a talk should contact Paul Rowen at chair@lrta.org with details.
Go to the Members’ Online Meetings Page for further details.
A recording of the latest talk is available for Members to view. See the ‘Past Meetings’ section of the ‘Members’ Online Meetings‘ page.
LRTA Area meetings – Many Areas are holding physical meeting
Physical meetings are now being held by many Local Areas again. See the meetings page for both physical and online meetings.
Upcoming Meetings
On-line 16:00. Ian Gledhill: Volk’s Electric Railway – A Remarkable Survivor (LRTA)
On-line Zoom Meeting - see https://www.lrta.org/get-involved/meetings/members-online-meetings/ for further Information
Taunton 14.00: Brian Boddy: Bitten by the Transport Bug (TLRS)
West Monkton Village Hall, Monkton Heathfield, TA2 8NE Contact westofengland@tlrs.info. £2.00 incl. light refreshments
Nottingham 1400 John Crofts: Nottingham Tramways (TLRS)
Beeston Scout Hut NG9 1GA Contact: chairman@tlrs.info
Join Us Campaigning
The UK Government introduced its long- awaited Environment Bill in February, replacing existing EU legislation and claimed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as an opportunity to demonstrate the UK has adopted tougher policies than the EU. TramForward is disappointed that the Bill contains no legally-binding targets to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) air pollution standards by 2030.
Latest News
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David Russell
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Read Article1937 - History of theLight Rail Transit Association
Back in 1937 the Light Rail Transit Association came into being. It was not a very grand launch. A few persons, aroused by what they judged to be the folly of scrapping certain tram routes in North London, established contact with each other through the correspondence columns of local newspapers. After one or two tentative gatherings, an organising committee of three (George Jackman, Jay Fowler and Geoffrey Southerden) signalled...
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