UK's first tram train en route to Sheffield

THE UK’S first tram train vehicle has started its journey to Sheffield from Spain. The fully-constructed, 37m long tram train will make a two week voyage over land and sea from Valencia before arriving in South Yorkshire on 1 December. Passengers in the county will be the first in the UK to benefit from the innovative new tram train, a tram-type vehicle that has the signalling, power supply, control and communication technology to run on both street tram lines and the rail network.
November 25, 2015 Read time: 3 mins

The UK’S first tram train vehicle has started its journey to Sheffield from Spain.

The fully-constructed, 37m long tram train will make a two week voyage over land and sea from Valencia before arriving in South Yorkshire on 1 December.

Passengers in the county will be the first in the UK to benefit from the innovative new tram train, a tram-type vehicle that has the signalling, power supply, control and communication technology to run on both street tram lines and the rail network.

The arrival of the first of seven tram trains marks an important milestone for the two-year pilot scheme, delivered by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), 5021 Network Rail, 805 Stagecoach Supertram, Northern Rail and the 1837 Department for Transport, to see if the technology can be used elsewhere in the UK. The pilot will run for two years while customer satisfaction, passenger numbers, reliability and costs are tested. Tram train will continue to run as a local service if the pilot is successful.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “This is a great milestone in the pioneering tram train project which, when complete, will mean better journeys for passengers in South Yorkshire, as well as helping to boost the economy of the local area and beyond. I am looking forward to seeing the first vehicle arrive in Sheffield next month.”

Speaking on behalf of the project team, SYPTE’s executive director Steve Edwards, added: “Tram train is a first for the UK. The design and planning to make Tram Trains run is a complex operation and we’re delighted this important milestone brings us one step closer to making the scheme a reality.

“Tram train will demonstrate the potential, both locally and nationally, of this new technology to deliver value for money services. It will provide a boost to the regional economy, thanks to improved connections across the region. And, if the pilot is successful, it opens the way for tram trains to be introduced in other parts of the country.”

Part of the major works to make the scheme a reality also includes the electrification of the rail network between Sheffield and Rotherham, building new Tram Train platforms at Rotherham Central and Parkgate, and the construction of a new 160 metre section of track, the Tinsley Chord, linking the tramway to the train line near Meadowhall. Approval by the Secretary of State for Transport to construct the Tinsley Chord was welcomed by SYPTE and Network Rail in November 2015.

Related Content

  • November 23, 2012
    Nottingham takes to e-ticketing
    England’s least car dependent city, Nottingham, is to further develop its public transport system with integrated ticketing solutions from Germany-headquartered ITS provider INIT, which is to supply systems for the town’s bus and tram network. With more than 40 million customer journeys per year, Nottingham’s independent bus operator Trent Barton was already successfully using INIT’s integrated ticketing solution comprising of Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETM), validators and Mango smartcards. Passengers
    Read More
  • June 21, 2016
    First year of growth in demand for public transport in EU ‘since economic crisis’
    The use of public transport in the European Union has reached its highest level since 2000, with a total of 57.9 billion journeys made in 2014, according to a new study released today by UITP (International Association of Public Transport). 2014 was the first year of distinct growth in demand for public transport after years of stable demand following the start of the economic crisis in 2008. The highest total demand in 2014 for bus, tram, metro and suburban rail was recorded in Germany (10.9 billi
    Read More
  • February 1, 2012
    Magnadata Group wins $37.35 million rail ticket contract
    UK-headquartered Magnadata Group has been awarded a five-year, US$37.35 million contract by ATOC (Association of Train Operating Companies) to produce the iconic orange magnetic rail ticket and associated products for all the UK train operating companies.
    Read More
  • April 9, 2014
    Gothenburg’s year of congestion charging
    A year after it went live, Colin Sowman examines the technology used for Gothenburg’s congestion charging system and the effect the scheme has had on commuters. When it comes to long-term planning, the Scandinavians take some beating.The West Swedish Agreement is a case in point. Introduced in 2009, the Agreement runs through to around 2027 and aims to create an attractive, sustainable and growing region, and over that timescale the number of journeys is expected to increase by a third. Therefore the Agreem
    Read More

Highlighted Content