The Department for Transport have revealed that the trial of tram-trains in the UK will take place on the national rail Penistone Line which links Huddersfield, Barnsley and Sheffield. The trial will commence in 2010 and last for two years.
Five new tram-trains will be purchased to operate the service. The whole point of tram-trains is that they can run on both the railway and tramways and they are lighter and greener than normal trains. Less fuel is used and the weight is less which reduces wear and tear on the tracks which in turn decreases the need for disruptive maintenance works. They also have faster acceleration and deceleration rates so can offer passengers better journey times.
The Penistone Line runs for 37 miles from Huddersfield to Sheffield and is described by the DfT as “a growing railway route in Yorkshire”. It is also one of the most successful Community Rail Partnerships in the UK and has been chosen for the trial because it offers the chance to test the tram-trains on a route that is in part for passenger trains only and in part for passenger and freight trains.
Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, said: “Tram-trains will bring quicker journeys and offer a greener travel option for passengers in Yorkshire. This trial, the first in Britain, could herald the start of a new era in public transport. Passenger feedback is a vital ingredient in determining the success of the trial and I look forward to hearing what the people of Yorkshire think about the comfort and reliability of tram-trains."
The trial will take two years commencing in 2010 and will look at the environmental benefits, operating costs and technical suitability of the tram-trains as well as testing how popular the vehicles are with passengers. If this proves to be a success a second phase is likely to be introduced which would see the tram-trains used on the South Yorkshire Supertram system – although how the differences in plarform heights would be solved is not known at this stage.
The project is a joint initiative between the Department for Transport, Northern Rail (who will operate the services) and Network Rail. Northern will run a competition for manufacturers to build the vehicles which they will in turn lease whilst Network Rail will spend £15 million on track improvements and station alterations. The DfT will contribute £9 million to fund the operation of the trial whilst part owner of Northern – Ned Railways – bring experience in operating tram-trains in the Netherlands.
Heidi Mottram, Director of Northern Rail, said: “We are very excited to be involved in testing this new form of public transport, which will mean higher levels of comfort and a faster journey for our customers on the Penistone Line. This is a great opportunity for us to develop our network and attract more people to use public transport in this part of Yorkshire."
Iain Coucher, Chief Executive of Network Rail, added: “This trial gives us a fantastic opportunity to see whether the types of technologies used in Europe can be adapted for use on our systems. We expect the lighter vehicles will result in less wear on the infrastructure - extending its lifespan, improve journey times and give the option of running future commuter services closer into city centres. We want to use the trial to get evidence about the practicalities of the tram-trains and assess how beneficial they will be to the UK. The partnership between Network Rail, the DfT and Northern Rail ensures that the needs of passengers, operators, the infrastructure operator and the local and wider community are all represented."
David Young, Head of Transport Integration at South Yorkshire PTE, said: “This is great news for the region. These modern, flexible vehicles will improve the travelling experience for people using the Huddersfield – Sheffield service and offer potentially faster journey times. This development builds on the success we have had with the Community Rail Partnership in improving services on the Penistone Line. It will also mean investment in improving the track and signalling systems on the line.”
Of course there are many in the UK who may say we already have tram-trains in this country with systems such as Manchester Metrolink having all the same hallmarks!
Blackpool – who recently announced their plans for tram-trains featuring the Blackpool South rail line – are still keen on ensuring any additional funding for tram-trains in the UK does not go across the Pennines again. Sir Peter Hall, who is in charge of the ReBlackpool project, said: “We can't allow Yorkshire to claim a double prize. In 2012, we shall be running our Red Rose Lancstram on the newly upgraded Blackpool Promenade track beside the town's own supertrams. We're fully confident we have a winning scheme that will allow us to prepare for the new service, including a demonstration of the trams. I don't intend to allow Yorkshire to steal a lead on Blackpool. Sheffield – you've been warned!"
* A video report from BBC Look North is available here.
Source: Department for Transport, South Yorkshire PTE & Blackpool Gazette