It’s not been a great couple of days for the UK’s tram systems with the BBC breaking the news that the Sheffield tram-train project has now been delayed following hot on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that the Midland Metro Grand Central extension opening was also being delayed. This time Network Rail have seemingly pulled the plug on the planned early 2017 opening stating that this date is not possible and that a “thorough review” would be undertaken before a new date could be announced.
As reported previously the scheme to introduce tram-trains between Sheffield and Rotherham is a Department for Transport backed pilot to see whether the concept of tram-trains will work within the UK. It is planned that a service will run between Cathedral on Stagecoach Supertram to Rotherham Parkgate on Network Rail metals using new vehicles constructed by Vossoloh. In order for the service to operate some infrastructure works need to be completed by Network Rail which includes the Tinsley Chord which will link the two networks together, overhead electrification and platforms at both Rotherham Central (amendments will be needed to this national rail station to allow the low floor tram-trains to call) and Rotherham Parkgate, which will be the terminus for the service.
Seven tram-trains are on order for Stagecoach Supertram with the first of these having already been delivered and is now in the testing and commissioning period. Of these seven vehicles four will be dedicated to the tram-train service with the other three adding extra capacity to the current Supertram network. It was expected that the first would enter service later this year on current Supertram services and there is no reason to suspect that this announcement will delay their first use.
Construction work has started to enable the project to progress but it now appears that Network Rail have concerns they will be unable to complete this work sufficiently enough by early 2017. It is not known which aspects of the construction are causing problems but Network Rail have stated that as this project is a first for Britain’s rail network a number of bespoke designs are required to allow the tram-trains to run on the mainline railway.
The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive are understandably disappointed in the news with a spokesman saying: “We have been notified that Network Rail can no longer complete the Tram Train infrastructure works to timetable, for passenger services to start in early 2017 as planned. We acknowledge that the design, planning and construction to allow the vehicles to run on the heavy rail network is complex. However, we are extremely disappointed in this news. All parties remain committed to the delivery of the project and to starting Tram Train services at the earliest possible time.”
No timescale has been given for the continued progression of the project but Network Rail have said they hope to provide an update at some point in the summer.
How long have Network Rail known the intended start date before they suddenly decide that they can’t do it in time? Hopefully the DfT will swiftly be demanding an explanation.
Increasingly clear problems run far beyond Network Rail scope. DFT must be thanking their lucky stars that limited scrutiny with the impending referendum dominating news coverage. Its a complete and utter shambles and blame lies across various agencies be very naive to just accept the scape goats presented to the public…
It is clear that Network Rail are stuck in the past and do not want to embrace tram/train possibilities. Every proposal so far has met with strong resistance from them.. There is however no economic case to continue with heavy rail one coach trains at long service intervals on branch railways in the uk. Tram/ train offers a viable alternative to take modern railed transport from suburban and rural areas to city centres and inter city rail heads. If Network Rail is not willing to change its ideas then the organisation is not fit for purpose and the Department of Transport should replace it or set up a new organisation in competition to forge ahead with tram/ train projects.
One thing is certain,all the top boys at Network Rail will still be getting their obscene bonus as usual,despite this balls up,and the balls up last week with Flying Scotsman on the new Borders Railway.
So much for Peter Hendy saying they must stop pissing money down the drain!…….
Let’s hope that after the government just cancelled the Leeds trolleybus scheme (“not in the public interest” they said) that the tram-train line will not get the chop under the same pretext.
Is this the same ‘Lets not run Scotsman’ Network Rail to change their mind 5 minutes later? The British Rail Industry is a joke. Its time the DfT grew a pair and started telling these people how its going to be. It wouldn’t have happened anywhere else!
I was looking forward to having something new to talk about, its a shame how they can’t get it done in enough time.
There were rumours a few weeks ago that the new Tram-Train was having issues with gradients in Sheffield, whether this is the case I`m not sure.
That aside, I`ve always wondered why this pilot was needed. Surely the Tyne and Wear Metro trams happily run on Network Rail metals from Gateshead to Sunderland without a hitch and have done so for 14 years. The concept works well and is proven in Europe.