This week not only do we report on a breakdown of one of the tram-train vehicles but we also bring you another photo update on the construction side of the project from the camera of Glyn Hill. With the project now not likely to see its first services until 2018 (at the earliest) there is still some progress on the construction and in this update we concentrate at the Rotherham end of the line.
At New York Junction and the start of the erection of overhead masts. Since this photo was taken further masts have appeared.
This is the east end of Rotherham Central station where once again masts are starting to appear.
The base of an overhead mast in place at Rotherham Central.
A class 142 DMU passes the junction leading up to Parkgate tram stop.
A crossover in situ at Parkgate looking towards Sheffield.
Parkgate stop is still under construction as seen in this view.
More masts are seen in this last image which was taken between Rotherham Station and Greasborough Road near to the canal. (All Photographs by Glyn Hill)
Actually this whole project is an example of British ‘Drive’, ‘Enterprise’ and ‘Competence’ at its worst, and that’s saying quite a lot. (Compare with the similar Great Western Electrification project!!) Point 1. It’s not in the south-east! Point 2. The powers-that-be realise full well that this whole “Trial” is pointless because the trials took place ages ago in Karlsruhe, were successful and have since been extended both there and elsewhere on the continent!! The project is totally bogged down in bureaucracy, inefficiency and sheer lack of interest. Again compare with the Gospel Oak to Barking electrification project – in the blessed south-east – which is, after just two years, already 80% complete.
One used to associate Italy with half-finished projects with no visible work taking place. Now Sheffield has followed suit with this stalled project and new trams sitting in the depot for more than a year without running in revenue service. Karlsruhe was not the first tram-train line. The North Shore interurban in Chicago ran on the elevated railway system in the city centre, then north of the city on reserved track and finally as a street running tramway. From the early 20th century until 1963. Tried and tested over decades of operation.
To be fair, the Gospel Oak-Barking electrification is not exactly a model of efficient execution either. Due to various problems and ‘incorrect designs’, electric trains will not now be running until early 2018.