Stagecoach Supertram have resumed full services on the Blue and Yellow routes following the removal of the trams involved in the collision at Shalesmoor on Thursday 22nd October. Despite initial external appearances 118 had actually suffered more severe damage than 120 and had to be split for further investigation before being towed to depot.
Supertram staff worked in conjunction with the Police overnight to return not only the trams involved in the collision to the depot but also those trams which had been stranded between Shalesmoor and Malin Bridge/Middlewood. With 118 blocking the way to depot 120 headed the wrong way along the city bound line to the crossover at Hillsborough. It was joined by 110, 105, 111 and 113 in performing a similar move with all five then being driven back to Shalesmoor wrong line under Police supervision. They were then able to return to depot under their own power.
Attention then turned towards getting 118 back to depot and this necessitated the tram being split for investigation of its articulation which had been damaged in the collision and had prevented its move the previous day. The tram was eventually moved at around 0530 and headed back to depot allowing normal services to resume through Shalesmoor and on to Malin Bridge and Middlewood.
The RAIB will now become involved in an investigation to discover what caused 120 to hit the back of 118 and what lessons can be learnt to help prevent similar incidents in the future. Judging by previous experience if a full report is produced this will be released in approximately 12 months.
I’m told this ‘low speed’ collision has resulted in 118 suffering a twisted articulation coupling and also derailed at least one of the vehicles, which helps explain why it took so long to move them.
The damage is severe enough that it’s looking like a hybrid unit will be returned to service, utilizing the good ends of 118 and 120, plus one of the center sections (likely the one from 120) while the damaged units are sent away for repair.
Under normal conditions the brakes on these trams are very effective, which leads me to believe either some kind of mechanical failure or serious driver error will eventually be revealed as the cause.
The Sheffield system is already woefully under resourced for vehicles, with passengers regularly having to endure crush-loaded standing journeys. So taking two cars out of action is sure to impact on the daily service for some weeks to come.