diff --git a/applications/test/treeComms/Test-treeComms.C b/applications/test/treeComms/Test-treeComms.C
index 832f1459f7..7408358464 100644
--- a/applications/test/treeComms/Test-treeComms.C
+++ b/applications/test/treeComms/Test-treeComms.C
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void printConnection(Ostream& os, const label proci, const labelUList& below)
 // The number of receives - as per gatherList (v2112)
 void printRecvCount_gatherList
 (
-    const UList<UPstream::commsStruct>& comms,
+    const UPstream::commsStructList& comms,
     const label comm = UPstream::worldComm
 )
 {
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ void printRecvCount_gatherList
 // The number of sends - as per scatterList (v2112)
 void printSendCount_scatterList
 (
-    const UList<UPstream::commsStruct>& comms,
+    const UPstream::commsStructList& comms,
     const label comm = UPstream::worldComm
 )
 {
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ void printSendCount_scatterList
 // Transmission widths (contiguous data)
 void printWidths
 (
-    const UList<UPstream::commsStruct>& comms,
+    const UPstream::commsStructList& comms,
     const label comm = UPstream::worldComm
 )
 {
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/Pstream.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/Pstream.H
index 04e3009503..05dc64eb51 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/Pstream.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/Pstream.H
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ public:
         template<class T>
         static void gatherList
         (
-            const UList<commsStruct>& comms,
+            const UPstream::commsStructList& comms,
             //! [in,out]
             UList<T>& values,
             const int tag,
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ public:
         template<class T>
         static void scatterList
         (
-            const UList<commsStruct>& comms,
+            const UPstream::commsStructList& comms,
             UList<T>& values,
             const int tag,
             const label comm
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/PstreamGatherList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/PstreamGatherList.C
index 267d3d1c98..edc269a067 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/PstreamGatherList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/PstreamGatherList.C
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ Description
 template<class T>
 void Foam::Pstream::gatherList
 (
-    const UList<UPstream::commsStruct>& comms,
+    const UPstream::commsStructList& comms,
     UList<T>& values,
     const int tag,
     const label comm
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ void Foam::Pstream::gatherList
 template<class T>
 void Foam::Pstream::scatterList
 (
-    const UList<UPstream::commsStruct>& comms,
+    const UPstream::commsStructList& comms,
     UList<T>& values,
     const int tag,
     const label comm
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.C
index cd8641607f..4f47d5f983 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.C
@@ -183,8 +183,8 @@ Foam::label Foam::UPstream::getAvailableCommIndex(const label parentIndex)
 
         procIDs_.emplace_back();
         // Sizing and filling are demand-driven
-        linearCommunication_.emplace_back();
-        treeCommunication_.emplace_back();
+        linearCommunication_.emplace_back(index);
+        treeCommunication_.emplace_back(index);
     }
 
     return index;
@@ -616,26 +616,24 @@ Foam::label Foam::UPstream::procNo
 }
 
 
-const Foam::List<Foam::UPstream::commsStruct>&
+const Foam::UPstream::commsStructList&
 Foam::UPstream::linearCommunication(const label communicator)
 {
     if (linearCommunication_[communicator].empty())
     {
-        linearCommunication_[communicator] =
-            List<commsStruct>(UPstream::nProcs(communicator));
+        linearCommunication_[communicator].init(communicator);
     }
 
     return linearCommunication_[communicator];
 }
 
 
-const Foam::List<Foam::UPstream::commsStruct>&
+const Foam::UPstream::commsStructList&
 Foam::UPstream::treeCommunication(const label communicator)
 {
     if (treeCommunication_[communicator].empty())
     {
-        treeCommunication_[communicator] =
-            List<commsStruct>(UPstream::nProcs(communicator));
+        treeCommunication_[communicator].init(communicator);
     }
 
     return treeCommunication_[communicator];
@@ -648,7 +646,7 @@ void Foam::UPstream::printCommTree(const label communicator)
 
     if (UPstream::master(communicator))
     {
-        commsStruct::printGraph(Info(), comms);
+        comms.printGraph(Info());
     }
 }
 
@@ -692,10 +690,10 @@ Foam::DynamicList<Foam::List<int>> Foam::UPstream::procIDs_(16);
 Foam::DynamicList<Foam::label> Foam::UPstream::parentComm_(16);
 Foam::DynamicList<Foam::label> Foam::UPstream::freeComms_;
 
-Foam::DynamicList<Foam::List<Foam::UPstream::commsStruct>>
+Foam::DynamicList<Foam::UPstream::commsStructList>
 Foam::UPstream::linearCommunication_(16);
 
-Foam::DynamicList<Foam::List<Foam::UPstream::commsStruct>>
+Foam::DynamicList<Foam::UPstream::commsStructList>
 Foam::UPstream::treeCommunication_(16);
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.H b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.H
index b7e802aa6c..b7df5c279e 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstream.H
@@ -151,19 +151,10 @@ public:
 
             // Member Functions
 
-                //- Print un-directed graph in graphviz dot format
-                static void printGraph
-                (
-                    Ostream& os,
-                    const UList<UPstream::commsStruct>& comms,
-                    const label proci = 0  // starting node
-                );
-
-
             // Access
 
                 //- The number of processors addressed by the structure
-                label nProcs() const;
+                label nProcs() const noexcept;
 
                 //- The procID of the processor \em directly above
                 label above() const noexcept { return above_; }
@@ -188,8 +179,14 @@ public:
                 //- Reset to default constructed state
                 void reset();
 
-                //- Reset with automatic linear/tree selection
-                void reset(const label procID, const label numProcs);
+                //- Reset (automatic linear/tree selection),
+                //- possibly with communicator-specific adjustments
+                void reset
+                (
+                    const label procID,
+                    const label numProcs,
+                    const label comm = -1
+                );
 
 
             // Member / Friend Operators
@@ -200,6 +197,67 @@ public:
                 friend Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const commsStruct&);
         };
 
+        //- Collection of communication structures
+        class commsStructList
+        {
+            // Private Data
+
+                //- The communicator index
+                label comm_;
+
+                //- The communication tree
+                List<commsStruct> tree_;
+
+        public:
+
+            // Constructors
+
+                //- Construct empty with invalid communicator
+                commsStructList() noexcept : comm_(-1) {}
+
+                //- Construct empty with given communicator
+                commsStructList(label comm) noexcept : comm_(comm) {}
+
+
+            // Static Functions
+
+                //- An empty structure. Used for placeholders etc.
+                static const commsStructList& null();
+
+
+            // Member Functions
+
+                //- True if communicator is non-negative (ie, was assigned)
+                bool good() const noexcept { return (comm_ >= 0); }
+
+                //- The communicator label
+                label comm() const noexcept { return comm_; }
+
+                //- Clear the list
+                void clear() { return tree_.clear(); }
+
+                //- True if the list is empty
+                bool empty() const noexcept { return tree_.empty(); }
+
+                //- The number of entries
+                label size() const noexcept { return tree_.size(); }
+
+                //- Reset communicator index and clear demand-driven entries
+                void init(const label comm);
+
+                //- Get existing or create (demand-driven) entry
+                const UPstream::commsStruct& get(const label proci) const;
+
+                //- Get existing or create (demand-driven) entry
+                const UPstream::commsStruct& operator[](const label proci) const
+                {
+                    return get(proci);
+                }
+
+                //- Print un-directed graph in graphviz dot format
+                void printGraph(Ostream& os, label proci = 0) const;
+        };
+
 
 private:
 
@@ -258,10 +316,10 @@ private:
         static DynamicList<label> freeComms_;
 
         //- Linear communication schedule
-        static DynamicList<List<commsStruct>> linearCommunication_;
+        static DynamicList<commsStructList> linearCommunication_;
 
         //- Multi level communication schedule
-        static DynamicList<List<commsStruct>> treeCommunication_;
+        static DynamicList<commsStructList> treeCommunication_;
 
 
     // Private Member Functions
@@ -1017,15 +1075,13 @@ public:
         }
 
         //- Communication schedule for linear all-to-master (proc 0)
-        static const List<commsStruct>&
-        linearCommunication
+        static const commsStructList& linearCommunication
         (
             const label communicator = worldComm
         );
 
         //- Communication schedule for tree all-to-master (proc 0)
-        static const List<commsStruct>&
-        treeCommunication
+        static const commsStructList& treeCommunication
         (
             const label communicator = worldComm
         );
@@ -1033,7 +1089,7 @@ public:
         //- Communication schedule for all-to-master (proc 0) as
         //- linear/tree/none with switching based on UPstream::nProcsSimpleSum
         //- and the is_parallel() state
-        static const List<commsStruct>& whichCommunication
+        static const commsStructList& whichCommunication
         (
             const label communicator = worldComm
         )
@@ -1048,7 +1104,7 @@ public:
             return
             (
                 np <= 1
-              ? List<commsStruct>::null()
+              ? commsStructList::null()
               : (np <= 2 || np < nProcsSimpleSum)
               ? linearCommunication(communicator)
               : treeCommunication(communicator)
@@ -1581,18 +1637,6 @@ public:
 Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const UPstream::commsStruct&);
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * Template Specialisations  * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-// Template specialisation for access of commsStruct
-template<>
-UPstream::commsStruct&
-UList<UPstream::commsStruct>::operator[](const label procID);
-
-template<>
-const UPstream::commsStruct&
-UList<UPstream::commsStruct>::operator[](const label procID) const;
-
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 } // End namespace Foam
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstreamCommsStruct.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstreamCommsStruct.C
index 48298178f6..72a41bba26 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstreamCommsStruct.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UPstreamCommsStruct.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2021-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2021-2025 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ namespace Foam
 static void printGraph_impl
 (
     Ostream& os,
-    const UList<UPstream::commsStruct>& comms,
+    const UPstream::commsStructList& comms,
     const label proci,
     label depth,
     const label maxDepth = 1024
@@ -263,27 +263,26 @@ Foam::UPstream::commsStruct::commsStruct
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Member Functions * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-void Foam::UPstream::commsStruct::printGraph
+void Foam::UPstream::commsStructList::printGraph
 (
     Ostream& os,
-    const UList<UPstream::commsStruct>& comms,
     const label proci
-)
+) const
 {
     // Print graph - starting at depth 0
     // Avoid corner case when only a single rank involved
     // (eg, for node-local communicator)
 
-    if (proci < comms.size())
+    if (proci < size())
     {
-        printGraph_impl(os, comms, proci, 0);
+        printGraph_impl(os, *this, proci, 0);
     }
 }
 
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-Foam::label Foam::UPstream::commsStruct::nProcs() const
+Foam::label Foam::UPstream::commsStruct::nProcs() const noexcept
 {
     return (1 + allBelow_.size() + allNotBelow_.size());
 }
@@ -301,7 +300,8 @@ void Foam::UPstream::commsStruct::reset()
 void Foam::UPstream::commsStruct::reset
 (
     const label procID,
-    const label numProcs
+    const label numProcs,
+    [[maybe_unused]] const label comm
 )
 {
     reset();
@@ -342,29 +342,46 @@ void Foam::UPstream::commsStruct::reset
 }
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Specializations * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Member Functions * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-template<>
-Foam::UPstream::commsStruct&
-Foam::UList<Foam::UPstream::commsStruct>::operator[](const label procID)
+const Foam::UPstream::commsStructList&
+Foam::UPstream::commsStructList::null()
 {
-    auto& val = this->v_[procID];   // or this->data()[procID]
+    static std::unique_ptr<commsStructList> singleton;
 
-    if (val.nProcs() != size())
+    if (!singleton)
     {
-        // Create/update
-        val.reset(procID, size());
+        singleton = std::make_unique<commsStructList>();
     }
 
-    return val;
+    return *singleton;
 }
 
 
-template<>
-const Foam::UPstream::commsStruct&
-Foam::UList<Foam::UPstream::commsStruct>::operator[](const label procID) const
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+void Foam::UPstream::commsStructList::init(const label comm)
 {
-    return const_cast<UList<UPstream::commsStruct>&>(*this).operator[](procID);
+    comm_ = comm;
+    tree_.clear();
+    tree_.resize(UPstream::nProcs(comm));
+}
+
+
+const Foam::UPstream::commsStruct&
+Foam::UPstream::commsStructList::get(const label proci) const
+{
+    const UPstream::commsStruct& entry = tree_[proci];
+    const auto numProcs = tree_.size();
+
+    if (entry.nProcs() != numProcs)
+    {
+        // Create/update
+        const_cast<UPstream::commsStruct&>(entry)
+            .reset(proci, numProcs, comm_);
+    }
+
+    return entry;
 }