The Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA), formerly the Light Railway Transport League (LRTL), is a
non-profit organisation
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
whose purpose is to advocate and encourage research into the retention and development of
light rail
Light rail (or light rail transit, abbreviated to LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit that uses rolling stock derived from tram technology National Conference of the Transportation Research Board while also having some features from ...
and
tramway/streetcar systems. The LRTA publishes the monthly magazine ''
Tramways & Urban Transit'' (formerly ''Modern Tramway''), and is based in the United Kingdom but with an international membership and remit.
History
The Light Railway Transport League was formed in 1937, and renamed to the LRTA in 1979.
It was formed at a time when Britain's urban tramways were starting to decline.
Because of the decline, the association campaigned for modern light rail in the UK, as typified by some "
Stadtbahn" systems in Germany. The openings of the
Tyne and Wear Metro in 1980,
Manchester Metrolink
Manchester Metrolink is a tram/light rail system in Greater Manchester, England. The network has List of Manchester Metrolink tram stops, 99 stops along of standard-gauge route, making it the Transport in the United Kingdom#Trams and light ra ...
in 1991 and new tram systems in
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
,
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...
,
Croydon
Croydon is a large town in South London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a Districts of England, local government district of Greater London; it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater Lond ...
and
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
are very much in line with the aims of the LRTA.
See also
*
National Tramway Museum
*
Scottish Tramway and Transport Society
*
Campaign for Better Transport
References
External links
*
{{Britishmetros
Light rail in the United Kingdom
Tram transport in the United Kingdom
Transport advocacy groups of the United Kingdom
Organizations established in 1937