We love trams!

Hello Supporter

At Campaign for Better Transport we love trams, and not just on Valentine’s Day, we love them year round! Why do we love trams so much? Because trams have the potential to transform the UK’s transport network and create safer, cleaner urban environments with thriving local economies. 

Of course we were once a nation of tram lovers with 100s of networks crisscrossing towns and cities throughout the UK. Most of these networks were dismantled in the middle of the 20th century, but with modern electric trams offering an eco-friendly, accessible and efficient transport solution, we think it's time for trams to make a comeback!

Trams are great for towns and cities because they are:

• Zero emission: Modern trams are all electric, helping to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
• Accessible: All UK tram networks feature full level-boarding making them accessible to wheelchair users and people with pushchairs or luggage
• Effective: A single tram can carry over 200 passengers. Running on dedicated tracks means trams bypass road congestion, keeping timetables reliable and predictable
• Popular: People love trams! Evidence shows people are more willing to switch from car to tram than to other options.

Raising trams up the agenda

Because we know how great they are, we want to see more tram and light rail schemes around the country to help deliver a sustainable transport network for everyone. That's why we've partnered with Create Streets to launch Tram Network to help local authorities across the UK explore and develop potential tram routes, working through some of the barriers which have prevented many parts of the country from having high capacity, accessible electric public transport. You can find out about my recent visits to Hull and Bournemouth as part of the Tram Network project in my new blog below.