The summer rail replacement works on the Stagecoach Supertram network had been planned to be completed on Sunday 6th August with normal services resuming the following day. Unfortunately, with the continued wet weather this summer it became necessary to extend the period of the works for a further 48 hours with attention to the track at Shalesmoor taking place during this extension.
As we’ve reported before, the works had begun on 24th July with several different phases of works due to take place in the two weeks up until 6th August. All the worksites were in the Hlllsborough and Shalesmoor areas which had meant that no trams ran beyond Shalesmoor at all for this period. All Blue route services ran to Shalesmoor instead of Malin Bridge with Yellow route services turning at Cathedral, except early morning, late evening and Sundays when they ran to Shalesmoor.
Shortly before the work was due to be finished it was announced a two day extension would be needed to allow the rails to be replaced on the inbound curve at Shalesmoor. These extra two days proved sufficient with services to Middlewood and Malin Bridge resuming from the start of service on Wednesday 9th August.
116 – Park and Ride advert – sits at Shalesmoor having arrived with a Blue route service. Its at the normal Hillsborough bound platform and will depart back to Halfway from the same platform as the passenger information display and additional signage lets prospective passengers know. Just beyond the city bound platform we see the work underway.
Contractors at work on the track at Shalesmoor.
Looking back towards Shalesmoor with both tracks within the work compound.
Passengers wait on the platform at Shalesmoor for a tram to arrive to take them back towards the city centre. Replacement bus services ran to Middlewood from Shalesmoor but there was no dedicated replacement service to Malin Bridge. (All Photographs by Stuart Cooke, 7th August 2023)