UTF - Urban Tram Forum (from the COST TU 1103 programme)

Presentation of the Urban Tram Forum (UTF)

The Urban Tram Forum (UTF) is a network of European experts created as a result of the COST Action TU1103 - Operation and safety of tramways in interaction with public space.

Since the COST Action, this group has been active and growing, with experts from Europe who did not necessarily take part in COST Action, one from the United States, and others even from Australia (via videoconference sessions).

The group has been meeting annually since 2016. Members present current topics followed by a discussion phase. During the meeting, an on-site visit allows participants to learn about the specificities of the host city, its accident-prone areas (or “hotspots”), developments, etc.

UTF locations:

• 2023: Lisboa - visit of the Lisboa’s tramway networks (Carris for the north of Tagus and MTS for the south of Tagus)
• 2022: Paris - visit of the T3b and T4 lines of the Île-de-France tramway network
• 2021: videoconference meeting due to the Covid pandemic
• 2020: videoconference meeting due to the Covid pandemic
• 2019: Brussels - visit of the Brussels tramway network
• 2018: Dublin - visit of the Dublin tramway network
• 2017: Lyon - visit of the Saint-Étienne tramway network
• 2016: Lyon - visit of the Lyon tramway network

Additional information on the UTF such as agendas and presentations is available on the CEREMA website at the following address:

COST Action TU1103 - Operation and safety of tramways in interaction with urban space

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a European intergovernmental programme designed to strengthen European research and innovation. The programme fosters the creation of research networks called COST Actions. Presentation of this research is therefore the fruit of the COST programme and the participants who contributed to it.

Action TU1103 began in September 2011 and ended in September 2015.

This European action aimed to improve the safety of tramways and reduce the impact of their conflicts with other public space users.

The main objectives were to:

• Improve the safety of tramway transport systems in European networks, by working together to understand the causes of accidents;
• Identify the relationship between safety and operating performance, with regard to “improving safety vs. increasing costs”;
• Reduce accident-related costs (maintenance and operational costs);
• Contribute to the rationalisation and optimisation of investment costs of tramway projects;
• Improve the urban insertion of tramways, as well as the safety, efficiency and reliability of the system;
• Indirectly promote the use of public transport over individual transportation in urban areas.

The deliverables of this action are freely accessible and available on the CEREMA website at the following address: