Media centre

Tuesday 8 Aug 2017

Passengers advised to check before they travel as Tram Train pilot progresses

Region & Route:

| Eastern

Network Rail engineers will complete vital milestones for the pioneering Tram Train pilot this summer, as work progresses to put the South Yorkshire scheme on track from 2018.  

The second phase of work to assist in linking the Stagecoach Supertram network to the national rail network is currently underway, and will be completed on the weekend of 19 August.

Passengers in South Yorkshire will be the first to ride on a Tram Train in the UK and, once further work is complete in 2018, these connections will allow Tram Trains to run seamlessly between Rotherham Parkgate, via Rotherham Central and Meadowhall into Sheffield city centre.

As well as the completion of the second phase of signalling, the weekend of the 19 August will also see work begin to install the new overhead line system, which will be used to power the Tram Trains.

Simon Coulthard, senior sponsor for Network Rail explained, “Between Saturday 19 August and 0530 on Tuesday 22 August we will carry out work to link the new signalling for the Tram Trains into our existing systems. 

“In order to minimise disruption to passengers and our freight customers the main work will be carried out overnight each night and scaled back in the daytime to allow some trains to run on the main lines. Unfortunately, because of its location, it is not possible to run any trains to or from Rotherham Central and replacement road transport will be provided. 

“There will also be a number of Sundays where buses replace trains at Rotherham Central to allow us to safely install the new overhead power lines.  I am grateful to passengers for their patience while we carry out this work for this exciting project.”

Other work on the project continues with the new platforms at Parkgate and Rotherham Central stations progressing well. Due to the discovery of unmapped cables by the utility company, a road closure which is in place whilst work to raise College Road bridge in Rotherham takes place will have to be extended for an additional two weeks. The road will reopen on Friday, 1 September.

Simon added: “We appreciate that this is disappointing to road users and we would like to thank them for their patience whilst we carry out this vital work. We are working closely with South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Rotherham Council on this issue.

“We would like to reassure people that this issue will not in any way interfere with the completion date of the overall Tram Train project and we are still very much on track for the introduction of a full Tram Train service for passengers in 2018.”

Ben Gilligan, Director of Public Transport for South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), said: “This essential engineering work marks an exciting milestone towards making South Yorkshire’s Tram Train services a reality, and the better passenger connections and boost to the local economy it will bring.”

Paul Barnfield, Regional Director at Northern, said: “We are working closely with our colleagues at Network Rail to minimise disruption to our customers.

“We have organised rail replacement buses and will do everything we can to help ensure our customers can keep on the move.”

Cllr Denise Lelliott, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy said that the transport improvements were an important part of Rotherham's regeneration.

“It's exciting to see all the various developments taking place in Rotherham right now, and the Tram Train project complements the Council’s ambitious plans for the borough, with better transport links helping to attract more visitors and creating job opportunities.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For the weekend of 19 August to 21 August only trains will be amended as follows:

• Northern services will not call at Rotherham Central. Connecting bus services will run between Meadowhall and Swinton, calling at Rotherham Central.  On Sunday only, until approximately 09:55, buses will replace trains between Sheffield and Doncaster. More information: co.uk / Twitter @northernassist
• TransPennine Express: there will be some minor amendments to individual services over the weekend. More information:  co.uk / Twitter @tpexpresstrains

Buses will replace trains during planned work affecting Rotherham Central station ONLY on: 

• Sunday 27 August
• Sunday 3 September
• Sunday 17 September
• Sunday 24 September
• Sunday October
• Sunday 8 October
• Sunday 15 October
• Sunday 22 October
• Sunday 29 October
• Sunday 5 November
• Sunday 14 January
• Sunday 21 January
• Sunday 28 January
• Sunday 4 February

• Passengers are advised to check their journey details before they travel at co.uk or by calling National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50.

Freight flows through the area include:

• Services for Aldwarke steel works
• Containers to Rotherham steel terminal which include white goods and consumer goods
• Steel from Immingham to Tinsley

• The Tram Train pilot is delivered by Network Rail, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Stagecoach Supertram, Arriva Rail North and the Department for Transport. More information: sypte.co.uk/tramtrain