Metric versus imperial on UK tram and light rail systems

[AY1975]

Does anyone know which UK tram and light rail systems officially use metric units (i.e. kilometres for distances and km/h for speed limits) and which use imperial units (miles and m.p.h.)?

AFAIK Manchester Metrolink and Sheffield Supertram officially use miles and m.p.h. Certainly the speed limit signs on Metrolink and Supertram are in m.p.h.

On the other hand Nottingham Express Transit and London Trams (formerly Croydon Tramlink) use kms and km/h so the speed limit signs are in km/h (even though those for road vehicles on the on-street sections are obviously in m.p.h. in line with current UK practice), as the other TfL modes (London Underground and Docklands Light Railway) have officially used metric units for some years.

Not sure about the rest (West Midlands Metro, Blackpool, Tyne & Wear Metro, Glasgow Subway and Edinburgh Trams).

 

[gordonthemoron]

Tyne and Wear Metro have always used metric since 1980

 

[hexagon789]

Does anyone know which UK tram and light rail systems officially use metric units (i.e. kilometres for distances and km/h for speed limits) and which use imperial units (miles and m.p.h.)?

AFAIK Manchester Metrolink and Sheffield Supertram officially use miles and m.p.h. Certainly the speed limit signs on Metrolink and Supertram are in m.p.h.

On the other hand Nottingham Express Transit and London Trams (formerly Croydon Tramlink) use kms and km/h so the speed limit signs are in km/h (even though those for road vehicles on the on-street sections are obviously in m.p.h. in line with current UK practice), as the other TfL modes (London Underground and Docklands Light Railway) have officially used metric units for some years.

Not sure about the rest (West Midlands Metro, Blackpool, Tyne & Wear Metro, Glasgow Subway and Edinburgh Trams).

Edinburgh Trams are metric.

Glasgow Subway is certainly metric for speeds, but I couldn't rightly say for distances.

As an aside - Do the heritage trams in Blackpool have speedometers?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

AFAIK Manchester Metrolink and Sheffield Supertram officially use miles and m.p.h. Certainly the speed limit signs on Metrolink and Supertram are in m.p.h.

Fairly sure that Manchester Metrolink track distances are, however, all measured in km, with the "zero point" being the delta junction near to Piccadilly Gardens.

 

[507 001]

Fairly sure that Manchester Metrolink track distances are, however, all measured in km, with the "zero point" being the delta junction near to Piccadilly Gardens.

Correct, although for OHLE purposes it depends on the line.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

West Midlands Metro appears to use the original GWR mileages on its Birmingham-Wolverhampton route - don't know about recent extensions.
Blackpool Trams route is measured in metric (17km end to end).

 

[PGAT]

Does the Elizabeth Line use metric for speed limits?

 

[hexagon789]

Does the Elizabeth Line use metric for speed limits?

I believe the core is still mph but effectively rounded conversions of km/h - so the core is 62mph max (100km/h), intermediate limits are for example 44 (70), 50 (80) and 56mph (90km/h)