Light rail operators will receive £56 million in financial support to help longer-term viability and self-sustainability as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Rt Hon Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, said: “As restrictions are lifted and passengers return, the light rail sector is important in helping local economic recovery, thereby supporting the government’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda.

“To encourage passengers back, light rail services should be as available as they were prior to the pandemic. Without support, however, it may not be possible for operators to maintain the services they have provided up until now.”

Shapps added: “I can, therefore, announce that a further £56 million in financial support in the form of recovery funding has been made available for the light rail sector."

The funding will run from 20 July to April 2022, and will support the following operators across the north and the Midlands:

• Manchester Metrolink
• Tyne and Wear Metro
• Sheffield Supertram
• Nottingham Express Transit
• West Midlands Metro
• Blackpool Tramway

The funding package will be the final tranche of COVID-19 related financial support to be given to the sector.