399 207 arrives in Sheffield completing tram-train deliveries

The late evening of Sunday 20th November saw the arrival of the seventh and final Tram-Train for Stagecoach Supertram arrive at Nunnery Square Depot. Built by Stadler the Citylink vehicle made the standard trip from Valencia in Spain arriving after dark in its new home. It has since been unloaded and will eventually undergo commissioning ahead of a entry into service at some point in the future.

Seven Citylink vehicles were originally ordered from Vossloh, whose Rail Vehicles business has since been bought by Stadler, with the aim of not only providing the rolling stock for the tram-train service between Sheffield City Centre and Rotherham Parkgate but also to increase the capacity on the existing Supertram network. Four vehicles are needed for the tram-train service with the remainder set to see use on other sections of the network.

399 201 was the first to arrive in Sheffield with delivery being on 30th November 2015 and this has since been followed by 399 202 (24th May 2016), 399 203 (28th June 2016), 399 204 (19th July 2016), 399 205 (26th September 2016), 399 206 (17th October 2016) and now 399 207. Only very limited testing has taken place – all at night – with the majority of movements of the vehicles seemingly confined to the depot complex.

It is not currently known when the vehicles will enter service on the main Supertram network with previous estimates apparently wide of the mark. Similarly just when the tram-train service will begin is not know with the last from Network Rail stating that the early 2017 date would not be achievable.

Of note 399 207 is the 225th new tram to arrive in the UK since 3001 was delivered to Manchester Metrolink on 13th July 2009 with Blackpool, Croydon, Edinburgh, Midland Metro and Nottingham also having seen trams arrive over the past seven years. As things stand now there will be a gap in new trams arriving as although both Blackpool and Midland Metro have more vehicles on the horizon these are not anticipated for a while with deliveries likely to coincide with future extensions.