News: Magna tram train stop given opening date

South Yorkshire’s newest tram train station is scheduled to open at Magna in Rotherham next month.

The £10m station and Park & Ride at Templeborough will serve the route between Sheffield and Rotherham - improving access for residents, businesses and the Magna Science Adventure Centre, reducing congestion and pollution within the Lower Don Valley, and supporting wider regeneration in the area.

Now SYMCA has confirmed that the new stop will be open on April 9.

Oliver Coppard, the Mayor of South Yorkshire, said: "So here we are at the almost ready Magna tram-train station. I'm really pleased to say it'll be open to passengers to use from Thursday the 9th of April.

"This new station is all part of our plan to build a fully-integrated transport network across South Yorkshire—the South Yorkshire People's Network.

"We can't wait to welcome you onto the platform when the first tram-train services start picking up passengers here next month."

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AmcoGiffen is the principal contractor of the station, which features fully accessible platforms, step-free access via lifts, and a pedestrian overbridge connecting both sides of the tracks.

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “It’s great that the new Tram Train stop is now in sight. Rotherham residents and people across the region will benefit from better, greener transport, improving access to jobs in the Templeborough area and beyond.

“And of course it fits into the bigger plan for the Don Valley Corridor between Rotherham and Sheffield; more jobs, more investment, and a transport system that supports it all. The proposed Templeborough Business Zone, which will be within a short walk of this stop, will be an early beneficiary.

Magna is also two short stops from Rotherham’s proposed Gateway station, which will connect businesses and residents in the Templeborough area to mainline rail services in the next few years. It’s a welcome boost, and we’re glad to have worked with partners to get it over the line."

The project is being delivered by SYMCA in partnership with Network Rail and Supertram, with £8.1m in funding from the UK Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

When South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) signed a funding agreement for the project, it forecasted a completion and entry into service of Autumn/Winter 2024.

Rothbiz reported last year that legal issues and delays associated with obtaining the necessary railway consents had pushed the completion date to November 2025. This was then pushed back to "early 2026."

The £100m+ tram train project launched in 2018 with innovative vehicles running on both rail and tram networks, using the freight route from Rotherham and then joining the Sheffield Supertram network at Meadowhall South. The service runs between Parkgate and Sheffield Cathedral.

A further tram train stop is in the proposals for the new Rotherham Gateway Station.

Supertram website

Images: Sheffield City Council

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News: Sheffield - Rotherham tram-train fare cut

A major boost for public transport in South Yorkshire has been announced as Supertram fares and child concessionary fares across bus and tram are frozen, along with a cut to the long distance single Supertram fare. It includes the Sheffield - Rotherham tram-train.

£2 bus fares were introduced nationally but came to an end in 2024, reverting to a single fare cap at £3 in 2025.

Stagecoach, the previous operator of the Supertam service in Sheffield and Rotherham, introduced £2 single fares and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) covered costs to extend the scheme. Under public control, Supertram fares were previously capped at £2.80 and changed to £3.40 in 2025 "to offset increases in operating costs, align with broader transport fare changes in the region and enable continued investment."

Now the South Yorkshire Mayor has confirmed that Supertram fares will be frozen at their current rate for 2026 and the adult long distance Supertram single fare will reduce in price from £3.40 to £3 - putting the cost in line with the national bus fare cap price.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “My mission is simple: to create a world-class, integrated public transport system that’s affordable and accessible. For decades, Supertram has suffered from a lack of investment, and fixing that hasn’t been easy. But we’ve brought Supertram back under public control – and buses will follow in 2027.

“That means decisions are made here in South Yorkshire, for the benefit of the people who live and work here – including the fares you pay. Whether you’re commuting, studying, visiting family or heading out for the night, we’re building a transport network that works for everyone.

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“From January, for the whole of 2026, we’re cutting the price of an adult long-distance tram ticket from £3.40 to £3 and freezing all other Supertram fares. We’re also keeping the child concessionary fare at £1 across buses and trams – helping families travel more easily.

“Freezing and reducing fares is just the start. In 2026, we’ll also open the new tram-train station at Magna, as well as spending millions to make the network more resilient and reliable, and accelerate our preparations for bus franchising in 2027. It’s going to be an exciting year as we continue to transform our public transport in South Yorkshire.”

Since Supertram was brought back into public control, work has started on a £110m investment by SYMCA into the existing tram network improving the track, the lines and the network – and initiatives including allowing dogs on trams are opening up the network to more people.

SYMCA papers state that the first year of the Supertram system being under public control saw strong performance with growing patronage. However, this increase has slowed and has since declined this year with tram patronage down 3% on an annualised/rolling basis. The data suggests that, following the fare increase, passengers may be viewing public transport as too expensive / not offering value for money.

The Supertram Business Plan is expected to come before the MCA Board ahead of the new financial year and contain more details around the performance of the system, and improvements and efficiencies made.

The reduction in the cost of the Adult Long Distance Supertram Single fare applies to on-board purchases of single tickets. Passengers can also continue to make more savings on travel by purchasing multi-day tickets and using the TSY Mobile App where further discounts apply. Adult Tram Day prices remain at £5.70 if bought on the tram or £5.30 bought in advance using the app.

The child concessionary fare across buses and trams will also remain at just £1 per journey, funded by SYMCA. Since November 2023 the price for a ticket has been £1 and the freeze on the fare applies across Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

In Barnsley, SYMCA is one of the partners, along with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, funding the MiCard pilot which currently offers free bus travel for children and young people aged 5 to 18, as long as the journey starts or ends in the Barnsley local authority area and is within South Yorkshire.

Supertram website

Images: Supertram

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News: Milestone met but Magna tram stop completion moved to 2026

South Yorkshire’s newest Tram Train station has reached a major construction milestone, with the installation of lift shafts and a new passenger overbridge now complete at Magna in Rotherham.

Set to open in "early 2026", the £10m station and Park & Ride at Templeborough will serve the Tram Train route between Sheffield and Rotherham - improving access for residents, businesses and the Magna Science Adventure Centre, reducing congestion and pollution within the Lower Don Valley, and supporting wider regeneration in the area.

When South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) signed a funding agreement for the project, it forecasted a completion and entry into service of Autumn/Winter 2024.

Rothbiz reported in February that legal issues and delays associated with obtaining the necessary railway consents had pushed the completion date to November 2025.

AmcoGiffen is the principal contractor with the new infrastructure marking a significant step forward in the delivery of the station, which will feature fully accessible platforms, step-free access via lifts, and a pedestrian overbridge connecting both sides of the tracks.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “It’s brilliant to see real progress being made at Magna. We’re building a better-connected South Yorkshire.

“This is about more than concrete and steel. It’s about making sure our public transport network works for everyone - accessible, joined-up, and designed around the needs of our communities.

“When the new station opens early next year, it’ll help more people get to work, get to school and spend time with friends and family. It’s another step towards a fairer, greener, more ambitious South Yorkshire. And I can’t wait to see it up and running."

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The Magna Tram Train station is being delivered by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) in partnership with Network Rail and Supertram, with £8.1m in funding from the UK Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Roisin Lowery, Network Rail sponsor, said: “The completion of the lift shafts and passenger bridge marks a key milestone in the project to complete the new Magna Tram Train station. We’re proud to be working with our partners to deliver what will be a major step forward in improving connectivity in this part of South Yorkshire.”

The station will be the first new Tram Train stop added to the network since the pioneering service launched in 2018, and is expected to improve access to jobs, education and leisure for thousands of residents and visitors.

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: “The new Tram Train station at Magna is a further step forward for Rotherham and the wider region - improving the way our public transport network works, and strengthening our plans for more jobs and homes along the corridor along Templeborough and beyond.

“This project is about making sure Rotherham residents and people across the region benefit from better, greener transport and that our town continues to grow. We’re proud to be working with partners to deliver this investment. I look forward to seeing the station open and making a real difference for our communities and visitors.”

Barnsley-based AmcoGiffen is employing 20 local staff and prioritising regional procurement. Key structural components, including the station’s footbridge and lift shafts, were fabricated at AmcoGiffen’s Barnsley steel fabrication facility, making the most of the area's strong network of construction suppliers.

AmcoGiffen’s Operations Director, Peter Laws, said: “We’re proud to play a key role in delivering South Yorkshire’s flagship Tram Train station, showcasing the strength of our delivery capabilities. This project has been a true collaboration between all partners, and we’re delighted to be delivering it safely, efficiently, and to schedule, helping to create lasting benefits for the community.”

Tram Train services continue to run as normal during Magna Tram Train station construction, except on Saturday evenings when dedicated replacement bus TT1 replaces services between Meadowhall South, Rotherham Central and Parkgate. A full Tram Train service will resume from December 6.

SYMCA website

Images: SYMCA

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News: £1.5 billion confirmed for South Yorkshire transport ambitions

One of the first investment announcements from the Government's Spending Review is £15.6 billion of funding for local transport projects in England’s city regions – including £1.5 billion for South Yorkshire.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves described next week's spending review as being "targeted squarely on the renewal of Britain" with more funding heading outside of London.

A review of the Treasury Green Book is set to start a step change in how government approaches and evaluates the case for investing in the regions.

Reeves said: "Connectivity is an absolutely critical factor in unlocking the potential of towns and cities outside of London. One of the areas in which previous governments have promised most, but delivered least. And that will now change.

"Stronger transport links within cities and the towns around them create opportunity by connecting labour markets and making it easier for firms to buy and sell goods and services in different places, to different people.

"We will be making the biggest ever investment by a British government in transport links within our city regions, and their surrounding towns. £15.6 billion in transport funding settlements, to be delivered by our regional mayors."

Previous transport projects in South Yorkshire have utilised the Government's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) with over £50m in Rotherham schemes outlined in South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's (SYMCA's) last allocation of £570m.

In 2023, the government provided an indicative allocation of £1.455 billion for South Yorkshire for "CRSTS2" when Rishi Sunak announced Network North as a replacement for HS2.

Now £1.5 billion has been confirmed for South Yorkshire. £530m is set to be used to renew the Supertram network, providing a fleet of new, replacement vehicles, modernising tram stops, as well maintenance to improve reliability. £350m will be set aside to reform South Yorkshire’s buses, with franchised buses operating in Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham by 2027 and across the whole of South Yorkshire by 2029.

The latest settlement is for 2027-28 to 2031-32 with around £12m brought forward and made available in 2026-27. Funding allocations for the final year of the CRSTS programme (2026-27) will be confirmed in due course.

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Reeves added that investment in South Yorkshire would support "Mayor Oliver Coppard so that, in addition to the reopening of Doncaster Airport, he can renew the existing, and now publicly controlled, Supertram network, with track replacements, overhead line maintenance, and rolling stock renewal with a full fleet of new vehicles by 2032, a bigger and better integrated transport network, linking jobs and homes in Sheffield and Rotherham."

Rothbiz has previously reported on the rising costs of the Supertram renewal which hit £596m in 2023.

Rothbiz also reported in 2022 that ambitious plans for transforming bus services in the region were not been backed by any Government funding. A funding gap was estimated to be between £430 - £474m.

South Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: "This £1.5bn investment into our transport system will be game-changing for communities across South Yorkshire.

“I know that big numbers like these can often feel disconnected from our daily lives. But put simply, that investment will help us make our vision of a bigger, better integrated transport network under public control, a reality. It will mean new and better buses, new electric vehicles, integrated ticketing and better information. It will mean new trams and better tram stops and lays the foundation for extending the tram network. It will mean our young people will be able to get to jobs and opportunities. That we can all access services, see friends and family, or go for a day, or a night out, without worrying how to get home.

“I’ve been clear that we’ve been ignored for too long, and that South Yorkshire has not received its fair share of funding from successive governments. Today’s announcement by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves of a £1.5bn investment into our transport system shows the government is listening, and backing, South Yorkshire.”

Absent from the announcement was Rotherham Gateway Station, described earlier this year as the number one project in SYMCA's submission to the spending review.

The new mainline station proposed for Parkgate is a Department for Transport (DfT) retained scheme, held back for further review or development before funding is released, so a business case for the project has been prepared in line with government guidance, including the requirements of the Treasury’s Green Book.

CRSTS (now renamed as Transport for City Regions) was identified for much of the next stage of the project - the development of a full business case which is expected to cost £11.35m.

Images: Supertram

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News: Work to start on delayed new Rotherham tram-train stop

Work is due to start this weekend on a new tram-train stop seen as a key enhancement in improving the public transport system of the Rotherham area.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year that the £9m project had been delayed by a year and costs had increased for a new stop and park & ride facility at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Templeborough.

SYMCA has now confirmed that from Saturday March 29 until winter 2025, tram-train services on Saturdays after around 5pm will not be able to operate between Meadowhall South, Rotherham Central and Parkgate.

The temporary timetable changes are to enable construction work to be completed safely by lead contractor, AmcoGiffen.

Legal issues and delays associated with obtaining the necessary railway consents pushed the completion date of the project which is utilising £8.1m from the Transforming Cities Fund - £166m allocated to South Yorkshire by the Government in 2020.

SYMCA has also confirmed that the cost of the project is £9.2m.

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The tram-train line runs to the rear of the site and the new stop will be the first since the innovative tram-train opened in 2018. Currently up to three services an hour travel on the existing tram network from Sheffield Cathedral to Meadowhall South / Tinsley, before proceeding over a new section of track linking the tram line to the rail line. It then continues on to the National Rail network to Rotherham Parkgate via Rotherham Central station.

Current proposals will see the creation of two platforms at Magna – one for each running line, connected by a footbridge – with passenger information, lighting, CCTV and passenger shelters. Although the new stop is being designed on heavy rail infrastructure, the stop will provide passengers facilities similar to that of a Supertram stop.

Making use of the existing underutilised parking supply at Magna is seen as a cost-effective way of increasing Park & Ride facilities in the area. Proposals include 100 park and ride spaces, along with cycle parking and electric vehicle charging. The authority has confirmed that it will be free to park at in line with other SYMCA-operated park & ride sites.

The project aims to help to support the long-term viability of tram-train beyond its successful pilot and has been designed to improve air quality and congestion, particularly at junction 34 of the M1, with the overarching aim of encouraging people to think about choosing public transport and active travel over private cars.

When work begins, services on Saturdays after around 5pm will not be able to operate between Meadowhall South, Rotherham Central and Parkgate.

During this time, tram-train services will divert to Meadowhall Interchange. The last service to Parkgate will depart Cathedral at 17:00, and the last service to Cathedral will depart Parkgate at 17:31.

Supertram replacement bus service TT1 is timetabled to connect to tram services at Meadowhall South and will serve Rotherham Central and Parkgate.

Supertram website

Images: SYMCA / HBPW

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News: All South Yorkshire councils to cover Supertram losses

A transport levy paid by the four local authorities in South Yorkshire is set to be used to cover the £6.3m losses of Supertram after Stagecoach’s current contract for operation of the network ends in March.

Opened in 1994, Sheffield's Supertram system cost £240m and now serves major residential and employment sites in Sheffield. A tram-train pilot project brought new vehicles to Rotherham in 2018. The running of Supertram services, infrastructure and finances will be controlled by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) through an arms-length company from March 22.

Rothbiz revealed in November that the cost to keep the Supertram network going for another 30 years is now nearly £600m, with only the first £105.95m secured, and that £7m is being set aside from the MCA budgets to support any operating losses. This is £7m each year, reducing over time.

The Mayoral Combined Authority Board is set to receive an update on the proposals, and budgets, when it meets next week with a business plan for Supertram on the agenda.

A 2024/25 operating budget for SYFTL (the arms-length company operating the tram) shows that operating costs are £23.6m per year for the 29km long network of four overlapping routes, served by 25 trams and seven tram-trains. Nearly 60% of costs go towards the wages and salaries of the workforce with almost 20% of the budget paying for the cost of electricity which powers the trams.

Annual income is £17.5m, which mostly comes from ticket revenues and around £1.8m from concessionary subsidies via SYMCA for elderly and disabled passengers and children.

Around 9.5 million people travel on Supertram every year. A long period of track renewal and the COVID pandemic has seen patronage fall from its peak of 15 million passengers per annum in 2010/11. There were 11.5 million passengers in 2019 prior COVID.

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A report to the SYMCA board said: "All these income streams are not enough to cover the tram system’s day-to-day running costs. In 2024/25, the operating deficit is forecast to be around £6.3m. SYMCA will pay an operating subsidy to SYFTL which will allow the company to meet all its financial obligations. SYMCA will also meet any costs necessarily incurred by SYFTL to deliver the asset renewal programme. In its own medium term financial plan, SYMCA has set aside sufficient resources (£5-7m per annum) from the South Yorkshire Transport Levy (paid by each of the four local authorities in proportion to their population) to cover the cost of the operating subsidy."

This year's transport levy is to be discussed at the same meeting. For 2024/25 it is set at £56.65m, raising an additional £1.1m of funding. The 2% increase would mean that Sheffield Council would pay in £23.6m, Doncaster £12.5m, Rotherham £10.6m and Barnsley £9.9m.

The new company's five year strategy sees Supertram go through a recovery phase before an improvement phase and then a growth phase. The plan forecasts that the operating deficit will decline as energy prices begin to stabilise.

The report adds: "One of SYFTL’s primary goals is to decrease its dependence on the public purse. To achieve this, the delivery plan includes several measures that aim to boost ticket sales and other forms of revenue, as well as identifying more cost effective ways of working. This includes new ticket collection machines which will speed up payments for customers. Efficiency in the business will be targeted with a major Timetable Optimisation Study the results of which will determine future service levels and support efficient running and manning of services."

SYMCA has put in place a two-year emergency support package for local transport in the face of a lack of resources and "stop-start" government funding for buses. The authority states that "without sustained Government funding this level of support cannot be maintained beyond financial year 2024/25."

SYMCA website

Images: Supertram / SYMCA

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News: New Magna stop is "a vindication of the Tram-Train trial"

A planning application has been submitted for a £6.65m project to introduce a new tram-train stop on the existing network with a new Park & Ride site in Rotherham.

The scheme is designed to provide a boost to the Magna Science Adventure Centre and the wider Templeborough area, as well as improve alternative travel options in an area known for low air quality. Network Rail say that the "new station at Magna is seen as a vindication of the Tram-Train trial" - the £100m+ pilot project which was first announced in 2009.

Extending the Sheffield Supertram network to Rotherham and Parkgate using the heavy rail line, the programme has been in place for five years and has demonstrated benefits from the lower infrastructure capital and maintenance costs compared to a heavy rail service; and the level of passenger demand and satisfaction it created, with over 2.3 million journeys. The new tram-train stop at Magna is seen as a logical enhancement of the network.

Backed by the Government's Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has been working with Network Rail on the business case for the new station.

Submitted two years after funding was confirmed, the plans from Network Rail explain: "The Tram-Train line runs to the rear of the site; therefore, an opportunity has been identified to build a new stop serving Magna and the wider area. This would improve connectivity and provide additional transport options for accessing Magna and the wider Templeborough / Sheffield Road area from both Sheffield and Rotherham.

"Alongside helping to provide growth to Magna and the local area, the new stop also supports Rotherham Council’s aspirations for increased investment in the regeneration of the wider Templeborough area and provide access to areas of opportunities from areas of need."

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Rothbiz has reported on a number of new commercial schemes in the area, including a council-led scheme for new industrial and food units on land owned by Manga.The area is also included in the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

Magna has plans to continue growing its events business (e.g. holding conferences etc.) and wants to develop a night-time economy (e.g. bands/concerts etc.). The site currently attracts around 160,000 non-school visitors per year, mostly in the school holidays. This comprises 80,000 attraction and 80,000 events visitors. Operators hope that recent investments in the visitor attraction will boost visitor numbers to 100,000 in 2023/24 and 120,000 in 2024/25.

At the same time, making use of the existing underutilised parking supply at Magna is seen as a cost-effective way of increasing Park & Ride facilities in the area. Plans add: "This will encourage drivers to park and then travel by Tram-Train. It is estimated that over 200,000 journeys annually would be made using the tram-train facility."

The application shows a station with two, 30m long platforms on land next to the car park at Magna, further down past the AquaTek outdoor play area. It is described as having basic facilities including a shelter, information boards, lighting, CCTV and cycle parking. A bridge, with lifts, and a fence running between the two tracks are also included.

The station will be accessed directly off the existing car park, which itself has direct access onto Bessemer Way.

The plans include the re-arrangement of existing car park spaces to increase capacity to 428 spaces from the existing 399 (which would include an additional number of disabled, motorcycle and electric charging spaces) available. Plans note that "the existing car park is currently operating at around 4% of capacity so there is ample room for the introduction of tram passenger parking on the site without detriment to the operation of the existing car park for Magna patrons."

A standard day in May 2022 saw only 14 of the car parking spaces used.

The application concludes: "The proposal for a new station at Magna is seen as a vindication of the Tram-Train trial and is seen as a key enhancement in improving the public transport system of the Rotherham area, enhancing journey opportunities between the Magna attraction, the town, and the wider Sheffield area. It makes an important contribution to the sustainable development of the tourist attraction and the wider town in aiding modal shift and reducing dependence on the private car, enhances economic prospects for job creation and helps to maintain the attractiveness of the Magna facility."

Magna website

Images: SYMCA / Network Rail / Google Maps

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News: Supertram renewal will cost £596m

The cost to keep the Supertram network going for another 30 years in South Yorkshire is now nearly £600m, new combined authority papers show.

Only the first £105.95m has been secured and the total doesn't include the Sheffield-Rotherham tram-train or any future extensions.

Opened in 1994, Sheffield's Supertram system cost £240m and now serves major residential and employment sites in Sheffield. A tram-train pilot project brought new vehicles to Rotherham in 2018.

The running of Supertram services, infrastructure and finances will be controlled by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) when Stagecoach’s current contract for operation of the network ends next March.

In 2021, the MCA successfully secured a £100m grant from the Department for Transport’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), which supports a partial renewal and life extension of the tram assets.

Work has continued on an Outline Business Case (OBC) for submission to the Department for Transport (DfT) to confirm the release of resources and satisfy the DfT that there is a case for ongoing tram asset renewal.

SYMCA papers show that, based on the full cost of renewals (up to 2032) is £596m.

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Studies have indicated that the fleet should start to be replaced from 2024 as there are issues with obsolete parts, particularly in the motor and auxiliary power supply systems on the vehicle. Traction power supply/substations, supervision, control and communication system also need to be replaced in the next few years. Work to modernise the depot and passenger facilities is also required.

The preferred option for a new fleet of trams would allow Supertram to operate until at least 2054.

The £596m cost includes inflation (and the £100m CRSTS allocation) but doesn't cover things like the relatively new tram-train operation, work on park & ride sites (like those underway at Parkgate and Magna in Rotherham), or any extensions to the network.

SYMCA's transport vision includes extending tram/tram-train coverage across the Sheffield city region. New routes from Rotherham to Swinton and Doncaster, and the potential to use the route passing a new station planned for Waverley have been mentioned.

The report to the Mayoral Combined Authority Board states: "It was agreed that the case for renewing the existing network needs to be made and opportunities for extensions are actively being reviewed as part of a separate tram vision exercise."

The authority's Audit, Standards and Risk committee were also told that "the expansion of the tram network was a longer-term ambition for the MCA. It would be important to invest in the current network and ensure it was fit for the future before considering expansion."

In the short term, The MCA has established an arm’s length, wholly owned, subsidiary company to operate the Supertram system from March 2024. But this too will cost the authority as the operation is currently loss-making.

£7m is being set aside from the MCA budgets to support any operating losses. This is £7m each year, reducing over time.

A long period of track renewal and the COVID pandemic has seen patronage fall from its peak of 15 million passengers per annum in 2010/11. Now, around 9.5 million people travel on Supertram every year. The new company's five year strategy sees Supertram go through a recovery phase before an improvement phase and then a growth phase.

The region has not yet finished paying for the original cost of the tram. The SYPTE (now subsumed by SYMCA) had a deficit of £30.5m on its general reserve budget relating to part of the construction of the Sheffield tram network and extended loans in 2014 that, unless repaid early, would still be paying off into 2034.

Images: SYMCA

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News: Wheels in motion for council to buy up land for new Rotherham mainline station

Rotherham Council's cabinet has given the green light for the authority to start negotiations to acquire land needed for a new mainline station in the borough.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and Rotherham Council have been developing a scheme to return mainline train services to the borough for the first time since the 1980s.

Rothbiz revealed last year that the total project cost was £107.6m. £99.5m for the station and £7.1m for the tram-train stop when it went before SYMCA.

If successful, the proposals would see new direct services into York and Birmingham, with faster services to Leeds, Sheffield, and Doncaster than currently offered.

A site at Parkgate is the frontrunner and the council is aiming to snap up five sites.

£1m has been secured to develop the Outline Business Case and £10m in funding has been secured for land assembly.

In March 2022 Cabinet gave authority to acquire the land necessary to facilitate delivery of the Integrated Mainline and Tram Train Station and negotiations to acquire this property are ongoing with the landowner.

The masterplan has now been developed further, identifying connections between the mainline and tram-train, a preferred location for the station building and a layout for supporting facilities including car parking, a pick-up/drop off area and space to accommodate rail replacement bus services.

This week, cabinet has approved the acquisition of four further sites - "additional land and property that is essential to accommodate the station, its facilities and supporting infrastructure including a secondary means of egress from the northern platform."

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The council is also investigating the potential use of powers for a Compulsory Purchase or Transport and Works Act orders to acquire the necessary land, although negotiation remains the preferred option.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy Cllr Denise Lelliott told members: "Connectivity is the key for unlocking employment opportunities and inward investment, getting people from A to B. Without a really good rail network, as well as buses and active travel, it is going to stifle economic regeneration and development.

"We need to get that mainline station here."

At the meeting, Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: "Arguably this is the most significant project for the Rotherham economy that we are able to undertake at the current time.

"If we are able to get agreement off government, and the necessary funding in place, then I think that would have a dramatic impact on Rotherham’s connectivity and the opportunities for jobs and leisure for Rotherham residents.

"It is worth saying that we are some way off being able to deliver that scheme in the way we would hope. There is funding that was secured through the Towns Deal to start pulling that site together. It is national infrastructure so the cards are not in our hands, if you like, to be able to deliver the whole scheme, but this is something that we want to take forward and continue to develop and to press government, whichever government it is, to be able to ensure that we get the benefit of those opportunities."

SYMCA had wanted to use the full £8m requested from its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for the project. Instead, the government is only allowing SYMCA to spend up to £1m from the pot between now and 2027 to develop the business case. Rotherham Council is hopeful of securing the follow-on funding.

With the development of the project and acquisitions set to take some time, construction is not due to start until 2026, with an opening for the new station pencilled in for Spring 2028.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Transport bosses in driving seat over £2 tram fares

After Supertram operator, Stagecoach announced that discounted fares would come to an end on March 31, the region's transport bosses are moving quickly to discuss a £500,000 boost to keep them going.

Rothbiz reported yesterday that the extension to a £2 fare cap, announced recently by the government, only relates to buses and that Supertram had announced that the price of single tickets across Sheffield and Rotherham would revert to their current prices from April 1 (see announcement below).

Now the combined authority has used a general exception notice to get the issue on the agenda for the next transport board meeting scheduled for March 30.

Notice is usually given 28 days before the meeting but this item is being considered an urgent decision.

An update from SYMCA states that they will now consider an "Extension of the £2 fare cap on tram fares from 1 April to 30 June 2023, to parallel the Department for Transport funded fare cap for busses. [sic]"

The estimated cost is £450k to £500k.

The update adds: "DfT [Department for Transport] announced extension of the fare cap on 17/02/23. It was not possible to give 28 days notice following internal consideration and confirmation of available funding to implement a cap on tram fares."

From 1 April, the £2 single fare cap on tram tickets which has been funded by the Mayoral Combined Authority will end and all adult single fares will revert to their normal prices as shown here https://t.co/id76j56YTU pic.twitter.com/VJ0vNHx6mJ

— Stagecoach Supertram (@SCSupertram) March 20, 2023

Without the funding, Supertram fares would see short distance singles at £2.20 and long distance singles at £3. Following the January 2023 fare changes, the short distance return has increased from £3.40 to £3.70. Tram Only DayRiders are £5.00 and Tram Only MegaRiders are £18.00 but both can be bought for less on Stagecoach's app.

SYMCA estimates that it would cost £4.7m per year to keep the £2 fare on buses and trams in place. Modelling is underway on a potential increased fare cap (which would require less subsidy) or a single fare structure across the region.

UPDATE

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has this afternoon recommended that the combined authority continues to fund the £2 fare cap on trams until the end of June.

He said: “The extension of the £2 fare cap to trams has been hugely popular – we’ve sold more than a million fare capped tickets on tram since we brought it in to match the fare cap on bus.

While the fare cap on buses is now paid for by central government, we fund the tram fare cap ourselves through part of our grant funding and our Cost of Living Fund.

With the extension of the bus £2 fare cap to the end of June, we had difficult decisions to make about whether we can afford to continue funding the cap on tram fares.

Today, working closely with Stagecoach Supertram, I have recommended that the MCA continues to fund the £2 fare cap on trams until the end of June.

Without government support for the £2 cap on tram fares, we’re going to struggle to keep the cap going past the end of June, but I’ll be lobbying government for support to extend the scheme on both our bus and tram network into summer and beyond.”

Images: SYMCA

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News: Supertram announces it won't follow buses with £2 fare extension

Discounted fares on the Supertram network in South Yorkshire look unlikely to continue after the end of this month.

An extension to a £2 fare cap was announced recently by the government but it only relates to buses and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is yet to announce any further financial support for trams.

Introducing a £2 fare in South Yorkshire (a so called "Mayor's Fare") two months ahead of a national fare cap on journeys "surpassed all expectations" with approaching two million journeys benefiting from the scheme. SYMCA initially set aside £600k as part of bold plans to combat the cost-of-living crisis.

The national scheme began on January 1 but South Yorkshire bus and tram fares have been capped at £2 since November 1. This was set to continue until the end of March 2023.

Last month the government announced plans to provide up to £75m so that bus operators can continue to cap single bus fares outside of London at £2 until the end of June, saving passengers money and encouraging more people back on the bus.

However, Stagecoach, the operator of the Supertam service in Sheffield and Rotherham, has confirmed that from April 1, the £2 single fare cap on tram tickets will end and all adult single fares will revert to their normal prices.

An update from Stagecoach said: "The national single fare cap is funded by Central Government, to allow all bus operators to cap the single fare at £2. The scheme for tram has been funded by the Mayoral Combined Authority, and this extension is ending after 31 March. This means the price of single tickets will revert to their current prices from 1 April."

It means that, short distance singles will be £2.20 and long distance single will be £3. following the January 2023 fare changes, the short distance return has increased from £3.40 to £3.70. Tram Only DayRiders are £5.00 and Tram Only MegaRiders are £18.00 but both can be bought for less on Stagecoach's app.

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The take up of the scheme in South Yorkshire has caused budget pressures at the combined authority with the budget for the scheme revised to £700,000, and then £1.1m. By the end of the eight-week scheme (November and December 2022) in South Yorkshire, nearly 1.9m trips were made across bus and tram at a total cost of £810,000. 22% were on the tram.

SYMCA estimates that it would cost £4.7m per year to keep the £2 fare in place. Modelling is underway on a potential increased fare cap (which would require less subsidy) or a single fare structure across the region.

It has been difficult to assess the scheme in South Yorkshire.

An increase in single fare sales has been offset by a reduction in the number of day and weekly tickets sold and measuring an uplift in overall patronage has been difficult given the time of year and Covid restrictions in previous years.

A report states: "The scheme has made (and continues to make) bus and tram travel cheaper for passengers and could be argued as being an effective targeting of subsidy for those that need it. Even though people clearly are benefiting from the scheme, they are likely travelling because they have to (for work) and that a more pronounced reduction in fares of itself would not generate significant patronage growth.

"Whilst the £2 fare cap has clearly been successful in saving passengers money during a cost-of-living crisis ... it is more difficult to demonstrate that such schemes are effective in driving modal shift. For this to be successful, any fares initiative (such as a fare cap, product range simplification, tap on/tap off schemes) need to be complemented by a bus service which is both punctual, reliable and competitive in terms of journey time."

The report adds that, without complimentary measures, a fares subsidy "is unlikely to be a cost-effective approach, unless (as for the Mayor’s fare) it is justified by cost-of-living benefits rather than for the purposes of modal shift and generating patronage growth."

The government has also extended Bus Recovery Grant (BRG) funding through to 30 June 2023 which gives SYMCA policy choices to consider on how it deploys its reserves to best services in the future. The extension of BRG is estimated to leave around £4.54m available from the £7.2m established for the protection of priority bus services.

A recent paper to SYMCA's transport board said that "There remains significant uncertainty as to what DfT [Department for Transport] will do in any further funding settlement beyond 30 June. In the absence of a long-term funding settlement for buses from government, it merely serves to delay the potential significant reduction in bus services when this funding expires."

SYMCA bosses want a longer-term (multi-year) funding settlement for bus to allow sustainable services to be put in place.

Cllr. Chris Read, Co-Chair of the SYMCA Transport and the Environment Board, said: “For many people across the region, public transport is a lifeline to work, to school, and to other services including hospital and doctors appointments. To make our buses sustainable in the long term they must be affordable, with fares that are simple enough for people to understand. That was the plan we agreed with the bus operators and that’s the plan I expect them to stick to. If we can’t make progress on that, it only strengthens the case for re-regulation across South Yorkshire.”

Richard Holden, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, said: "We are currently working on our plans for when BRG ends on 30 June 2023 and will continue to work with the bus sector, including bus operators and local transport authorities, on the challenges they face."

Images: SYMCA

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News: £2 maximum fares introduced early in South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire bus and tram fares have been capped at £2 from today, more than two months ahead of a national £2 cap on bus journeys between January and March.

The government will provide up to £60m across the country with a £600k boost from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) as part of bold plans to combat the cost-of-living crisis.

The average single fare for a 3-mile journey is estimated at over £2.80. Bus and Supertram journeys which already cost under £2 will not be affected, including 80p Zoom Beyond fares for young people.

£2 adult fares are available on any bus or tram service which starts and ends in South Yorkshire, including services operated by First South Yorkshire, Stagecoach Yorkshire, Supertram, Globe, South Pennine, Hulleys and TM Travel.

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South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, said: “As we head into winter, I know just how many people in South Yorkshire are worrying about feeding their families, heating their homes, and affording the very day to day basics as the cost of living continues to spiral.

“Public transport is part of the solution. That’s why we’re not just introducing the £2 fare cap early here in South Yorkshire, we’re extending it to include trams.

“Because while the Government’s temporary fare cap is welcome, it doesn’t go far enough to support the thousands of people in our region who rely on our buses and tram network. Alongside the Zoom Beyond fares at just 80p for young people, we now have some of the best public transport fares in the country.

“We have a broken public transport network here in South Yorkshire but bit by bit we’re making things better for the travelling public. This is just another step on that journey.”

The government said that it will continue to work closely with bus operators and local authorities and consider future support to help passengers continue accessing reliable and affordable bus services after March.

Mayor Coppard has previously said that the government's "stop-start bus funding fiasco" led to bus operators walking away from some contracts with the SYMCA stepping in and using financial reserves to try and plug the gap. For example, First South Yorkshire had implemented reductions in service in response to a lack of resources in order to ensure delivery.

Images: Travel South Yorkshire

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News: Supertram coming into public control, but there's a £581.5m catch

The running of Supertram services, infrastructure and finances will be controlled by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) when Stagecoach’s current contract for operation of the network ends.

But SYMCA papers show that the cost to keep the network going for another 30 years is now over £500m. Only the first £105.95m has been secured.

Opened in 1994, Sheffield's Supertram system cost £240m and now serves major residential and employment sites in Sheffield. A tram-train pilot project brought new vehicles to Rotherham in 2018.

Stagecoach assumed responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the network. Ownership of the asset remained with the authority. The SYMCA board has now voted to establish an arm’s length wholly owned subsidiary company to operate the Supertram system from 2024, when Stagecoach's contract ends.

At the same time, the authority has been progressing a project to fund the replacement of tram vehicles, tram tracks, and traction current supply and modernise the depot and passenger facilities.

£105.95m of the full project cost has been allocated to date from the Government's CRSTS fund and other available funding. The first £12.95m is set to fund urgent work on the tram tracks and renew some of the vehicles and to develop the business case for submission to the government in 2023/4.

SYMCA papers state: "Supertram has been in operation for over 30 years, and the application states that large parts of the traction control system are now obsolete and are no longer being manufactured, whilst others do not comply with current regulations. These assets are publicly-owned, and replacing and upgrading the infrastructure will ensure the continuation of the mass transit public transport system.

"Emerging findings from the 2022 Infrastructure survey have been cited as evidencing a need for tram, track and traction current supply replacement on the basis of safety as further deterioration past 2024 could result in tram services being discontinued due to reduced reliability and safety on the tram network. "

A previously preferred option of renewal with improved services included: a new fleet of 28 trams, to provide an enhanced service (up to 7.5 trams per hour; further rail and track renewals; improved passenger facilities; the refurbishment and extension of the depot; renewal of control, signalling and communications systems and; renewed and enlarged power supply.



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South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Our transport ambitions - for how our communities get to jobs or education, and how they visit family and friends - must work for the whole of our region and for a generation to come.

“Supertram has been part of South Yorkshire’s fabric for nearly thirty years. In the next thirty years, it will play a critical role in helping us reach our net zero goal. Now, I am pleased to be able to say that it will do so as a publicly owned, publicly operated venture.

“Full public control of Supertram is an exciting new chapter for our tram network. It will help us to develop a long-term, integrated approach that fits with our wider plans for buses, rail, walking and cycling across South Yorkshire.”

A 2018 consultation on the Future of Supertram found strong public support for proposed investment running at nearly ninety-percent (88%) of local residents, businesses, visitors and community groups. The majority of respondents (68.3%) stated they would travel by car if the tram was no longer available.

30% of Sheffield’s businesses and 190,000 people reside within walking distance of a tram stop. Previous work includes a £9.4m track replacement project and complimentary schemes are in development to build additional Supertram Park and Ride sites at Parkgate and Magna in Rotherham, to increase the catchment area.

As well as the capital costs, the network is "currently running at significant losses" - hit by reduced patronage during the COVID-19 pandemic and from the closure of parts of the system for renewal works.

SYMCA papers show that "the costs of supporting tram operations upon the end of the current concession in 2024 have now been modelled into the budget, showing initial subsidy requirements of c. £7m p/a reducing over time. These forecasts remain very sensitive to energy price inflation."

Supertram website

Images: SYPTE

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News: What happens when Stagecoach's contract to run Supertram ends?

The current concession for running the Supertram network in Sheffield and Rotherham ends in 2024 and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is discussing a future tram operating model.

Opened in 1994, Sheffield's Supertram system cost £240m and now serves major residential and employment sites in Sheffield. A tram-train pilot project brought new vehicles to Rotherham in 2018.

Stagecoach assumed responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the network. Ownership of the asset remained with the authority. The SYMCA board is due to meet next week to discuss a "likely repatriation of operational tram responsibilities."

The MCA wants to establish an arm’s length wholly owned subsidiary company to operate the Supertram system.

The authority had received little interest from the market for a private sector operator to take on the revenue risk and also looked at the possibility of a short term (4/6 years) operating contract with a private sector operator, with the public sector retaining revenue risk.

Hit by reduced patronage during the COVID-19 pandemic and from the closure of parts of the system for renewal works, the network is "currently running at significant losses."

Board papers show that "the costs of supporting tram operations upon the end of the current concession in 2024 have now been modelled into the budget, showing initial subsidy requirements of c. £7m p/a reducing over time. These forecasts remain very sensitive to energy price inflation."

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Another issue is that the tram infrastructure and vehicles are nearing the end of their economic life and the renewal programme would see disruption to operations. The MCA has secured c.£100m of capital from DfT to commence this programme of works but a full renewal would cost over £400m.

A previously discussed preferred option included a new fleet of 28 trams, to provide an enhanced service (up to 7.5 trams per hour; further rail and track renewals; improved passenger facilities; the refurbishment and extension of the depot; renewal of control, signalling and communications systems and; renewed and enlarged power supply.

The MCA is in the process of submitting a business case to DfT for further funding.

Back in 2015, Rothbiz revealed that SYPTE still has a deficit of £30.5m on its general reserve budget with a significant part of this relating to capital expenditure incurred by the PTE as part of the construction of the original Sheffield tram network.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said long-term plans for the network’s future must work for the whole of the region:

“Supertram has been part of our region’s fabric for nearly thirty years. It’s iconic to South Yorkshire and plays a critical role in helping us reach our net zero goal. But with that legacy, parts of the system are nearing the end of their design life, and – in the aftermath of the pandemic - passengers are using services differently.

“Our ambitions - for how our communities get to jobs or education, and how they visit family and friends - must work for the whole of our region for a generation to come.

“That is why we are reviewing the funding and future of our region’s tram network. I am excited to propose public sector operation as the next stop on Supertram’s journey. This will help us to develop a long-term approach that integrates Supertram into our wider plans for public transport across South Yorkshire.”

Supertram website

Images: Stagecoach

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News: Government's rail plan for the North "a missed opportunity"

A thorough reassessment of the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan is essential to ensure this once-in-a-generation investment in rail is not a missed opportunity to address regional imbalances, urges the Transport Committee.

When the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (IRP) was published last November, it scaled back ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) with Rotherham and Sheffield missed off the new network. The IRP also showed that the HS2 Phase 2b Eastern leg would no longer reach Leeds and instead included a pledge to look at options on how best to take HS2 services to Leeds.

The latest report says that alternative options, which could transform stations and city centres in key Northern cities, have not been properly tested. Leaving out key elements of analysis of the wider economic impacts of the different options set out for Northern Powerhouse Rail means that value for money and economic return cannot be compared and validated.

The Committee called for a full analysis of the wider economic impacts, and a full benefit-cost ratio, for the different Northern Powerhouse Rail options. If the results demonstrate that other options offer better value and outcomes for the taxpayer, economy and the communities directly impacted, MPs say Government ‘must grasp the nettle’ and make the necessary changes.

The Chair of the Transport Committee, Huw Merriman MP, said: “We welcome the scale of the Government’s promised spending on rail. At £96 billion, the Government has billed it ‘the largest single rail investment ever made by a UK Government’. The Committee agrees it has the potential to transform rail travel for future generations.

“However, many towns and cities are already disappointed by the proposals which have been set out. The Prime Minister promised that he would, with Northern Powerhouse Rail, do for the North what he did for Londoners with Crossrail. Instead, much of the track will be an upgrade of existing line. The business case of HS2 was based on it going east to Leeds. Now, it stops in the East Midlands without any understanding of how much money is saved."

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Despite being missed off the list, Government cash had already earmarked for Rotherham mainline station and so local proponents continue to work up plans. The Parkgate area is the front runner and the project could also be tied together with a tram train station.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) told the Government, and this committee, that missing Rotherham off NPR network "runs contrary to the desire to "level up" communities."

Rotherham Council also submitted evidence to the committee.

Whilst welcoming the change of HS2 route (the authority was strongly opposed to the proposed M18 route for Phase 2B from the West Midlands to Leeds "which would have inflicted a significant toll on our local community, without any meaningful benefit to our borough"), Rotherham Council wants to see savings from the change ploughed into NPR and improving local rail services.

The council's response mentions capacity issues at Sheffield Midland and the knock on effects to local services, the need for a commitment to electrification beyond Sheffield to Leeds (a so-called "Northern Loop"), and a proposal for the significant expansion of the tram-train connections from Sheffield, through Rotherham, and ultimately on to Doncaster and Doncaster Airport (this would include the conversion of Rotherham Parkgate to Swinton and Doncaster local rail services.)

On a £30m mainline station, described as being of "fundamental importance to Rotherham" the council explains that it is "developing a scheme with TfN [Transport for the North, the sub-national transport body] for a combined NPR led mainline station and SYMCA led Tram Train station connected as a single interchange.

"TfN identified that a new Mainline station in Rotherham would be a relatively straightforward scheme for delivery within three to four years and we are keen that this is recognised within government. Any downgrading of the scheme following the changing status of TfN would be a direct detriment to our borough."

The SYMCA response details that the new station "will allow NPR trains between Sheffield and Leeds and Hull to stop there and will significantly enhance regional rail connectivity for Rotherham, enabling residents and businesses to capitalise on the benefits generated from NPR services."

For example, two trains per hour, NPR "shuttles," are sought between Sheffield and Leeds stopping at Rotherham mainline.

The SYMCA response adds: "The Manchester Airport to Cleethorpes NPR service could also stop at the proposed station. Furthermore, other local and regional services could potentially also call at [the] new station, providing local connectivity to sizeable towns including Wakefield, as well as intermediate stations to Sheffield and Leeds.

"A tram-train stop on the nearby branch line would link the new station to the town centre, and other local communities. To ensure that the new station can bring much needed early economic benefits to Rotherham, its accelerated delivery should form part of the Integrated Rail Plan."

Funding for the Rotherham mainline station has already been approved - £8m from the SYMCA's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and £10m is earmarked to support the mainline station as part of Rotherham Council’s successful £31.6m award from the Towns Fund. NPR is also expected to fund the mainline station.

New stations have been highlighted as having the potential to be in development up to 2025 with delivery between 2025 and 2030.

Images: DfT

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News: Plans progress for Magna Park & Ride

Plans for a £6.65m project to introduce a new tram-train stop on the existing network with a new Park & Ride site at Magna in Rotherham are coming down the line.

Rothbiz revealed in 2019 that the Magna project had been included in a bid to secure over £200m from the Government's Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). The Sheffield City Region (SCR) secured £166m with the Templeborough scheme picked out by the Government for funding.

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) is promoting the project and is currently developing a full business case whilst launching a consultation to help to shape and inform the scheme design and operational requirements.

The overall aim is to create a realistic alternative to the car for journeys between Rotherham and Sheffield, improve connectivity for the Magna Science & Adventure Park and wider Templeborough area and increase tram-train patronage thereby contributing to the longer-term viability of the Supertram service.

The proposed scheme will link to Rotherham Council’s proposals for an active travel corridor between Rotherham town centre and Tinsley and Sheffield City Council’s proposals for walking and cycling links continuing to Meadowhall.

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Starting services in 2018, passengers in South Yorkshire were the first in the country to benefit from the innovative tram-train pilot project where special vehicles use pioneering technology to run on both Sheffield's tramlines and the rail network in Rotherham.

Network Rail will be responsible for development of the design and construction of the new 30 metre tram-train stop. A Network Rail scheme at Rotherham Central was hampered by delays and their work on the heavy rail modifications also delayed the tram-train scheme.

This is the first through stop on the tram-train route which will be served exclusively by Supertram services. Meaning its design will be unique and differ to a standard mainline station, typically found on the National Rail network.

Consultation documents explain: "The building of two new staggered, low level Tram Train platforms at Magna Science & Adventure Centre - one for each running line, connected by an accessible footbridge with lifts and stairs - with passenger information, lighting, CCTV and passenger shelters. A separation fence between the running lines will dissuade trespass onto the railway from the low-level platforms."

In addition, the scheme includes the introduction of a new 100–150 space Park & Ride within the existing Science & Adventure Centre park.

SCR documents show that Magna are very receptive to the scheme and that "a 100-year lease over the land required for the P+R (and its access) at peppercorn rates is likely to be agreed."

A completion date of April 2023 is mentioned.

SYPTE Director of Transport Operations, Pat Beijer, said: “Passengers in South Yorkshire are the first in the UK to benefit from pioneering Tram Trains, and we’re seeking your views to help shape this ambitious project - the first to grow the network since it opened in 2018. The important proposals aim to improve connectivity between local neighbourhoods and centres. We hope the new Tram Train stop and Park & Ride will help to address traffic congestion and air quality in the area, particularly at Junction 34 of the M1, by encouraging people to think about choosing public transport and active travel over private cars.”

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “We want everyone in Rotherham to have sustainable, convenient and affordable travel options – and public transport is central to that. This scheme stands to benefit us all by reducing traffic congestion and harmful emissions, so I encourage everyone who lives in, works in or travels through this area to examine the proposals, and help make the most of this investment.”

Route Director for Network Rail’s North and East route, Matt Rice, added: “The proposed Tram Train stop would improve connectivity for local businesses, visitors to Magna Science & Adventure Centre and people living in the Rotherham area, with better access to a fast, clean method of transport. We’re pleased to be working closely with SYPTE and join them in encouraging local residents and Tram Train users to share their views through the consultation.”

SYPTE website

Images: SYPTE

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News: Network Rail and partners launch Tram Train Pilot Learning Hub

It was once branded an example of "how not to run a rail project" and now others can learn from the experience of designing, constructing and operating Britain's first Tram Train system.

Starting services in 2018, passengers in South Yorkshire were the first in the country to benefit from the innovative pilot project where special vehicles use pioneering technology to run on both Sheffield's tramlines and the rail network in Rotherham. Funded by the Government, the trial aims to show how similar services can be introduced across the country.

In 2017 the Public Accounts Committee looked at the issues of cost increases and delays, the under-estimation of the scale and complexity of the works, and the risks involved in delivering new technology. It said that it had all the makings of a "how not to" seminar for future projects.

Generally, Tram Trains can provide new journeys and connections with much less infrastructure than totally new tram or rail routes. Passengers can make a single, seamless journey between light rail tram stops and conventional heavy rail stations. And with many being electric or battery-powered they are better for the environment.

The launch of the hub is a key part of the scheme which runs between Sheffield Cathedral and Rotherham Parkgate via Rotherham Central station, linking previously unconnected areas.

The pilot, funded by the DfT, has been running for two years to test customer satisfaction, passenger numbers, reliability and costs. The scheme has proven popular and scored 96% for user satisfaction on the latest independent survey by Transport Focus.

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The hub is a comprehensive body of learning available free of charge that will benefit and boost future light and heavy rail hybrid schemes like Tram Train. It is hosted by the web-based SharpCloud system and is further enhanced by easy navigation, a high-quality graphic interface and updates through to mid-2021.

Simon Coulthard, Network Rail’s Head of Light Rail Knowledge & Development, said: “The launch of the learning hub marks another major milestone in the delivery of the Tram Train Pilot. I thank my colleagues in SYPTE, Supertram and Network Rail for helping to compile the information and data that makes this a very comprehensive learning resource. I hope colleagues in the industry will find the hub valuable as they assess the potential for Tram Train elsewhere.”

The launch of the hub marks the first major deliverable for Network Rail’s new Light Rail Knowledge team which is part of the Network Services directorate. The team, led by Simon, has been created to provide a centre of excellence in Network Rail for light rail matters. Simon, and Light Rail Knowledge Manager Alex Dodds, work closely with colleagues and stakeholders to share learning from the Tram Train Pilot and help assess the next generation of light rail schemes that could benefit passengers and communities.

Alex, who maintains the hub, said: “It’s taken a huge effort by all the partners to bring our collective learning into one accessible forum. I’m really excited to be sharing our knowledge and helping the development of future light rail schemes.”

Images: SYPTE

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News: Tram-train trial ends

The Sheffield-Rotherham Tram Train service will be used as a blueprint to benefit future UK transport schemes, as a two-year pilot to test the pioneering technology comes to an end.

Travelling on tramlines in Sheffield and the rail network in Rotherham, the award-winning service has taken on 1.5 million passenger journeys, and celebrated a 100% satisfaction rate, since its launch in October 2018.

The scheme’s success has driven a commitment for Tram Train to continue to run in South Yorkshire beyond the end of the pilot.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton Harris, said: “The South Yorkshire Tram Train is a flagship scheme that has transformed public transport connections in the region and could act as inspiration for similar schemes elsewhere.

“The £125m invested by the Department for Transport has resulted in millions of passengers using the new network, helping unlock our economy and better connect communities.”

Over ten transport authorities, including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff, are seeking to create their own Tram Train service, following the success of the South Yorkshire scheme, which was funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), Network Rail and Stagecoach Supertram.

SYPTE Executive Director, Stephen Edwards, said: “South Yorkshire’s Tram Train pilot - the first of its kind in the country – has demonstrated that this innovative technology has real potential to provide an additional transport option for UK urban areas. Bringing with it many benefits to local residents, businesses and communities, such as new direct connections, reduced congestion and improved air quality.

“Our region is leading the way for Tram Train learning and application in the industry. We’re proud to have delivered this important pilot locally, and to be part of the future opportunities the pioneering technology could provide - creating solid foundations for further Tram Train service and infrastructure development, both for our region and beyond.”

Ambitions have been set to extend Tram Train to other parts of South Yorkshire giving access to thousands along existing railway lines, including into Swinton, Barnsley Dearne Valley, Waverley, Doncaster and Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “Our region is a cradle of innovation and creativity and we're proud to have pioneered the UK’s first Tram Train connecting Sheffield and Rotherham.

“Across South Yorkshire we are building a transport system that is fit for the 21st century. To do this, we need to the Government to back our £400 million tram renewal programme. This would help us extend Tram Train to other parts of the region and unlock a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire."

The SCR Mayoral Combined Authority is asking the Government to foot most of the £439m bill to renew the existing Supertram network.

Plans in the region‘s Transforming Cities Fund scheme and Integrated Rail Plan for Tram Train also include a permanent 300-space park and ride at Parkgate in Rotherham and a new station and park and ride at Magna.

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Providing a comprehensive range of lessons learned to the industry was a key requirement of the pilot, to progress work in future Tram Train schemes. The scheme’s monitoring tests and day to day observations over a two-year period will evaluate the connectivity and economic potential of the technology, including around cost differences, technical standards, and operations.

Tim Bilby, Managing Director of Stagecoach Supertram, said: “We are extremely proud to have helped lead the way in this award-winning and innovative trial, which will be used to develop other similar schemes round the country. Most crucially, this will support the development of further public transport connections which are critical to the country’s green recovery.

“From its launch, passenger numbers and customer satisfaction have exceeded expectations, proving that Tram Train offers an affordable and efficient way to connect Sheffield City Centre and Rotherham.”

Stagecoach's operating contract for Supertram runs until 2024.

The pilot’s significant construction milestones included installing new track, power supplies and platforms at Rotherham Central and Parkgate. All contributing to enabling the complex project to develop new standards, infrastructure and ways of working which allows vehicles to run on both tramlines and the rail network.

Simon Coulthard, Head of Light Rail Knowledge and Development for Network Rail, said: “Over the last two years, the Tram Train service has improved connections between Parkgate and Sheffield, via Rotherham and Meadowhall for passengers, using the existing railway and tramlines, as well as new track and power supplies.

“Following the success of this pilot scheme in South Yorkshire, we have a new dedicated team working to support similar projects across the country.

“Network Rail is also working closely with Transport for the North and Sheffield City Region on the potential to expand Tram Train across South Yorkshire to help transform journeys and connect local communities.”

Supertram website

Images: Stagecoach

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