A major milestone in the history of light rail in the UK has moved a step closer after the contracts for the Tram-Train project between Sheffield and Rotherham were signed. This will be the first official Tram-Train to operate in the UK \u2013 although you may well argue that Manchester Metrolink got there first 21 years ago! \u2013 and is due to start operating in early 2016. Transport Minister Norman Baker was on hand to sign the contracts on behalf of the government during a brief ceremony at Meadowhall South tramstop where the Tram-Train vehicles will leave the existing Supertram network to reach Rotherham.<\/p>\n
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The service will operate between Rotherham Parkgate and Sheffield city centre operating on the existing Supertram network and the national rail network. The route will be upgraded in the next couple of years before services commence in early 2016. New vehicles constructed by Vossloh will be delivered before then and these will be dual voltage to allow for any subsequent electrification of the Midland Mainline by being capable of operating at both light rail and heavy rail operating voltage.<\/p>\n
Norman Baker commented: \u201cProviding better connections between the heart of Sheffield and Rotherham’s centres and residential areas will help to reinvigorate the local economy. It will also encourage people to leave their cars at home. \u201cTram-Trains are an innovative and high-capacity transport system which have proved very successful in other European cities. We will be monitoring the scheme over the course of the next two years and I look forward to seeing if it would be appropriate to replicate it elsewhere in the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n
Work needed to upgrade the current heavy rail line will include a new link junction being built between the light rail and heavy rail lines near Meadowhall South. The rail line from Meadowhall South to Rotherham Central Station and Rotherham Parkgate will be electrified and new platforms will be built at Meadowhall South and Rotherham Parkgate with those at Rotherham Central extended. There will also be consideration given to other stations in the future.<\/p>\n
The first two years of the project will be used as a pilot to Tram-Train operation in the UK so that the rail industry can understand and assess the technical issues in such operations. If the pilot is successful it is hoped it will open the way for other Tram-Trains to run in other parts of the country.<\/p>\n
Seven of the Vossloh vehicles will be provided as part of the project funding with four of these required for the service to Rotherham. The other three will provide some much needed extra capacity on Supertram during peak periods.<\/p>\n
Cllr Mick Jameson, Chair of the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, said: \u201cToday\u2019s signing is further welcome investment by Government in the transport infrastructure of South Yorkshire. The project will provide important enhanced local connectivity and demonstrate the potential, both locally and nationally, of this new technology to deliver value for money services. We are excited to be a project partner in this ground breaking project\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret Kay, Managing Director of Stagecoach Supertram, added: \u201cTram-Train offers us the potential to deliver greener, smarter public transport services to even more people. We have a strong track record of providing high quality, good value services to the people of Sheffield day in, day out and we look forward to being able to expand our tram network even further through this ground-breaking project.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A major milestone in the history of light rail in the UK has moved a step closer after the contracts for the Tram-Train project between Sheffield and Rotherham were signed. This will be the first official Tram-Train to operate in … Continue reading