Stephen Edwards has been appointed as the new Chair of UKTram, the organisation representing the country’s light rail sector.
Stephen joins UKTram with a successful background in strategic development, business planning and operations management – most recently as executive director and director general of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE).
His high-profile appointment will provide a major boost for the organisation.
Managing Director James Hammett, explained: “We are delighted that Stephen has agreed to take on the role as our organisation looks towards further growth and the delivery of an ambitious strategy for the future of light rail in the UK.
“Under previous Chairs, UKTram has gone from strength to strength. Stephen’s appointment will help drive the further evolution of the organisation as we strive to deliver even more benefits for members.
“His broad experience and extensive contacts will also prove invaluable as we step up efforts to promote tramways and similar transit systems as the most effective way to improve urban connectivity while reducing pollution and congestion and driving inward investment.”
On his latest role, Stephen said: “The case for light rail gets stronger by the day as we face the challenges of climate change and an increasing need to improve urban connectivity as a means to driving economic growth.
“I’m particularly looking forward to working with the UKTram team and colleagues from across the wider light rail sector to help remove the barriers to the future expansion of existing systems and proposed new tramways as part of the fully integrated public transport networks of the future.”
A former director and Chair of the Urban Transport Group, he has previously worked for Liberata UK Ltd and BT in a variety of roles.
Image credit: UKTram
