We reported last month on the first phase of the 2020 Stagecoach Supertram rail replacement project which will get underway on Monday 4th May in the Hackenthorpe, Donetsk Way and Birley Golf Course areas and last until 5th June. It has now been confirmed that there will be three further phases of work this year, which is the last of the current three rail replacement project.
The additional phases will be:
Saturday 6th June to Friday 24th July: White Lane and Norton Avenue
Saturday 25th July to Tuesday 1st September: Gleadless Townend/Ridgeway Road and Manor Top/Spring Lane curve
Wednesday 2nd September to Friday 25th September: Crystal Peaks bus entrance/Crystal Peaks Office entrance/Elcroft Gardens
These periods will see further revised timetables introduced affecting the Blue and Purple routes of Supertram although details of these have yet to be announced, and the frequency of trams is likely to be affected by any Coronavirus restrictions which may be in effect at that time.
In discussing the project, Tim Bilby, Managing Director of Stagecoach Supertram, said: “Our Supertram services play a crucial role in South Yorkshire’s public transport network and during the current COVID-19 pandemic, are more important than ever in helping to provide connections for key workers. This important work will help to ensure reliability of the network for the future. We have worked hard with SYPTE and its contractor, to ensure that the impact on services is minimised and arrangements are in place for people to use existing Stagecoach bus services where we aren’t able to run trams. Many key workers continue to rely on our services, and I would like to pay tribute to them, and to all of our own employees for their important work in helping to keep South Yorkshire moving.”
For the first phase of works, Supertram have announced revised timetables with the Blue route running between Birley Lane and Malin Bridge at a 30 minute frequency in the morning peak and hourly the rest of the day (Monday-Friday) and hourly at weekends. The Purple route will be running hourly.