Stagecoach Supertram services remain disrupted by the hole at Park Square Junction which continues to see Blue and Purple route trams forced to terminate at Sheffield Station, with no end in sight either as a new replacement bus service is due to be introduced from Monday 8th September.
Structural engineers are due to undertake tests over the weekend on the hole which for quite a small hole is causing quite a lot of problems! Stagecoach Supertram bosses are obviously not too hopeful that these tests will lead to an immediate solution as they have decided to introduce a replacement bus service from Monday 8th September which will link Castle Square with Granville Road (one stop beyond Sheffield Station). This bus, running as R1, will run at the normal Blue route frequency (every 10 or 20 minutes depending on the time of the day) and will go via Sheffield Station.
Whilst this goes on a normal service is being run from Sheffield Station to Halfway (Blue) and Herdings Park (Purple) with two spare trams being stabled between the stop at the Sheffield Station and Park Square in the eventuality of any failures during the day.
A view of the hole at Park Square Junction showing its proximity to an overhead pole which is why services have been suspended.
Another view of the hole during an inspection on 5th September.
On 5th September the two spare trams at Sheffield Station were 120 and 111.
115 and 107 wait to return to Halfway and Herdings Park respectively with 120 and 111 seen in the background. (All Photos: Stuart Cooke)