The South Yorkshire Supertram network could find itself under full public control again from 2024 if proposals are approved by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) at a meeting later this month. Supertram has been operated as a concession by Stagecoach since 1997 but with this contract ending in March 2024 alternatives for the future of the network are being investigated.
The proposal now on the table would see the running of Supertram services, infrastructure and finances controlled by SYMCA. The South Yorkshire PTE (as was) already own the infrastructure of the network but after an initial period of operating it, the operations were privatised to Stagecoach in 1997 to provide a boost to passenger numbers.
South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “Supertram has been part of our region’s fabric for nearly thirty years. It’s iconic to South Yorkshire and plays a critical role in helping us reach our net zero goal. But with that legacy, parts of the system are nearing the end of their design life, and – in the aftermath of the pandemic – passengers are using services differently. Our ambitions – for how our communities get to jobs or education, and how they visit family and friends – must work for the whole of our region for a generation to come. That is why we are reviewing the funding and future of our region’s tram network. I am excited to propose public sector operation as the next stop on Supertram’s journey. This will help us to develop a long-term approach that integrates Supertram into our wider plans for public transport across South Yorkshire.”
The proposals in place would see an “arms length” publicly owned company created to run the tram system. This is said to be part of the region’s wider ambitions to upgrade Supertram as part of a fully integrated public transport network.
Recently, £100 million worth of funding from the government was secured for Supertram which will allow parts of the system to be modernised. This would include track and infrastructure improvements and better facilities for passengers.