On 18th May, Pre Metro was proud to host the Network Rail Mixed Use Rail Workshop, welcoming figures from across the heavy, light, and very light rail industries to Stourbridge for a day focused on collaboration, innovation, and the future of regional transport.

The event began with a behind-the-scenes look at the operation of the world-renowned Stourbridge Shuttle, where delegates were given an in-depth tour of our operational and maintenance facilities.

Attendees learned about both the practical and engineering aspects of running one of the UK’s most successful and reliable rail services, including the day-to-day delivery of Very Light Rail operations and the maintenance processes that support our industry-leading performance.

We also shared Pre Metro’s long-term ambitions to expand service provision beyond Stourbridge, and we discussed opportunities to improve connectivity by extending services toward Dudley.

Following the tour, attendees moved to the historic Bonded Warehouse for lunch before taking part in the Mixed Use Rail Workshop itself, which was attended both in-person and online by representatives from across the sector.

The workshop provides an important platform for discussion around the future integration of heavy rail, light rail, freight, and emerging Very Light Rail technologies, highlighting the growing importance of collaborative thinking in delivering cost-effective and accessible public transport solutions.

As part of the day’s discussions, attendees were also introduced to the launch of a new Mixed Use Rail (MUR) webpage, developed collaboratively and hosted on the UKTram backend.

The new platform has been created to serve as a central hub for information on Mixed Use Rail, showcasing ongoing projects, industry research, case studies, and collaborative opportunities across the sector.

The upcoming launch of the webpage will demonstrate the collective approach being taken by industry partners to support knowledge sharing and encourage closer working relationships between organisations involved in shaping the future of rail transport.

By providing a dedicated and accessible source of information, the platform aims to support future conversations around integrated and mixed-use transport systems across the UK.

We’ll also continue working with our industry colleagues to promote new and collaborative opportunities for the site once it goes live.

Pre Metro would like to thank all Network Rail and attendees for contributing to a productive and forward-thinking event in Stourbridge.