Railfuture was invited to join Network Rail and UK Tram’s Mixed Use Railway initiative, also supported by the RSSB. Ian Brown as Railfuture Policy Director attended the first full group meeting which was held in Stourbridge on 18th May 2026 chaired by Simon Coulthard, Network Rail’s Head of Light Rail Knowledge and Development.
The aim is to develop and promote cost effective ways of developing the National Rail infrastructure to accommodate lighter rail as well as conventional rail to provide cost effective rail based transport options particularly to devolved transport authorities. It includes a thorough look at standards through UK Tram’s Centre of excellence and the Railway Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).
The MUR Group also visited the Stourbridge Lion shuttle that has now been in regular service for 17 years using a small LPG engine powering a flywheel for propulsion. The lack of a cross industry body may in some way explain why so little development has taken place over this time without published standards for the use of our national infrastructure and indeed the difficulties with the implementation of tram train schemes in the UK unlike the situation in for example, Germany and France.
MUR Board visit to the Stourbridge Pre Metro operation at Stourbridge Junction. This is operated by Pre Metro Ltd under contract with West Midlands Railway as part of the their West Midlands Rail network and operates 6 round trips between Stourbridge and Stourbridge Junction per hour! Photo by Ian Brown.
A healthy load of passengers waiting at Stourbridge station. Photo by Ian Brown.
Railfuture intends to continue to support this initiative and if any member wants to be more involved please make contact. Campaigning is critical but in this case we also need to find and demonstrate cost effective solutions so potentially effecting modal shift to rail.
It is good that the rail industry has invited Railfuture to actively participate in the Mixed Use Railway project.
Following the meeting UK Tram has launched a website for the industry-supported initiative which will regularly update on developments
https://www.uktram.org/mixed-use-railway