UK: Light rail industry association UKTram has established a working group to explore options to lower costs through joint procurements.
‘From soaring energy prices to the increasing price of parts for vehicles and infrastructure, operators are reporting significant strains on their budgets, with no sign that prices will level off or fall in the short to medium term’, said Managing Director James Hammett on December 8.
‘In response, we have set up a working group that will look at cross-sector, smart procurement that may generate savings for our members. This could include the co-ordination of bulk purchases of parts and equipment that are widely used across the sector, as well as identifying more cost-effective alternatives.’
The first meeting included representatives from the Manchester, Nottingham, West Midlands, Sheffield and Croydon networks, and a further meeting is planned for January.
