During the enhanced service operated by South Yorkshire Supertram during the Tramlines Festival at the end of July, 399 206 made a rare appearance in service. Presumably with more trams than usual needed to operate the service it was pressed in service – for what is thought to be the first time this year!
Supertram possess seven of the Citylink Tram-Trains with the order including not only vehicles to operate the service to Rotherham Parkgate but also to give extra capacity on the rest of the network. Their reliability has not always been the best and with the current timetable in operation those which are set up for use on the conventional tramway network haven’t been seeing regular use in service.
But 24th July 2026 (and indeed 25th July 2026) saw 399 206 used in service – working on services to Malin Bridge on both days. Whether this is a coincidence or whether they didn’t want to use it to Middlewood is something to debate!
Currently 399 206 and 399 207 are thought to the only of the Citylink vehicles which have the wheel profiles for the tram network. The other five are believed to be set-up for Tram-Train services.
399 206 waits at Malin Bridge having just arrived with a service on 24th July 2026.
The next day we see 399 206 at Hillsborough where it has just emptied of passengers on their way towards Tramlines. (Both Photographs by Stuart Cooke)