Skip to main content

Milestone for Northern Powerhouse as UK’s first tram train unveiled

The UK's first ever tram train has been unveiled in South Yorkshire. Vehicles from this government-funded project are designed to run on both the city’s tramlines and the rail network between Sheffield and Rotherham. This will allow passengers to make single journey between tram stops and conventional rail stations from early 2017, once the works are complete. Prior to this, the tram trains will undergo a period of testing, before being introduced on the Supertram network in summer 2016, to provide extra
December 14, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The UK's first ever tram train has been unveiled in South Yorkshire. Vehicles from this government-funded project are designed to run on both the city’s tramlines and the rail network between Sheffield and Rotherham. This will allow passengers to make single journey between tram stops and conventional rail stations from early 2017, once the works are complete.

Prior to this, the tram trains will undergo a period of testing, before being introduced on the Supertram network in summer 2016, to provide extra services at busy times.

The government is working in partnership with South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), 5021 Network Rail, 805 Stagecoach Supertram and Northern Rail to pilot this new technology in the UK.

The South Yorkshire Tram Train pilot will run for 2 years. If successful, it is hoped that the tram train will continue to run as a local service and stimulate similar schemes in other towns and cities.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “The unveiling of the UK’s first tram train is a major milestone and paves the way for an impressive new fleet of passenger vehicles to come into service from next year. This government-funded pioneering project will help transform travel in South Yorkshire with better journeys and improved connections. It will also boost the economy of the local area and beyond. Good strategic transport links and infrastructure are central to rebalancing the economy, bringing the country closer together and the success of the Northern Powerhouse.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Chinese company confirms Mexico train tender plans
    January 9, 2015
    China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC) has confirmed its intention to participate in the new tender for the US$3.4 billion Mexico City-Querétaro high-speed rail project. Mexico's transport and communications ministry (SCT) said draft bidding rules for the new tender would be published on 14 January. The project calls for the construction of a 210km high-speed rail link connecting Mexico and Querétaro, via the cities of Cuatitlán and Tula. The high speed train will run for 210 kilometres between Buenav
  • £25 million boost to tackle UK highway bottlenecks
    March 26, 2013
    Ten schemes to remove bottlenecks on the local UK highway network and support economic growth have been given the green light by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin. This £25 million in funding, the first allocation from the US$258 million Local Pinch Point Fund programme, will enable early delivery of these schemes and will help support employment while unlocking development sites to help local businesses and communities.
  • Electreon completes first US dynamic charging project
    December 8, 2023
    Testing of inductive charging technology along the Detroit road will start next year
  • Intelligent intersection control
    April 12, 2013
    Intelligent intersection control systems have a growing role to play in making urban traffic more efficient. Robin Meczes reports. The idea of every traffic light turning green as you approach it has long been a dream for many an urban driver – and none more so than those driving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), which are slow and difficult to bring to a halt and then accelerate back to normal travel speed. But that dream has become a reality for some drivers in a small number of cities around Europe in the las