South Yorkshire Supertram is now starting to get a new look following the ending of 27 years of Stagecoach operation on 22nd March 2024. Whilst all trams still retain the same Stagecoach livery with the old logo (although all mentions of Stagecoach have been removed), a brand new logo and branding is starting to be seen on the stops.
Using the slogans “One Small Step for Tram” and “Moving South Yorks Forward”, the new branding seeks to build on the message from the South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard that bringing the system back under public control will allow a bigger and better tram network to be created with full integration with other modes of transport.
So far, things have continued much as before with the same timetable in operation although this is planned to be reviewed to allow opportunities for amendment which will better serve demand. All stops and shelters are also due to receive a deep clean within the first 100 days of public control.
The new Supertram logo in on the far left here of this signage along with the two slogans.
New timetables and other information posters are also appearing at stops with the new branding. This is Leppings Lane. (Both Photographs by Stuart Cooke)
Why?
Because when you’ve just taken the franchise off Stagecoach, they get a bit upset if you continue using their branding…
Looks like they pretty much HAVE used Stagecoach’s branding to me. Still blue and orange!
This would have been a good opportunity to paint the trams into the traditional blue and cream to demonstrate a high quality service at low cost, which is what Sheffield’s original trams provided. But instead some design ‘expert’ has managed to design a logo for a tramway that looks for all the world like tyre tracks!
Livery and branding are different things. The livery will need to change eventually but its the wording and style thereof which is important. Lots of operators keep the former bus liveries but debrand the wording.