Sheffield Supertram & Tram Train news

[JD2168]

I visited yesterday to complete my coverage of the supertram network by travelling to Herdings Park and Halfway, and the Herdings Park service was not running. I thought all the engineering works for that line were supposed to be completed, and I couldn't find any references anywhere to why the service was not running and when it is expected to resume, although of course I may not have looked in the right places!

(Still had a pleasant day out, walking in the Rother Valley Country Park).

I wouldn’t be surprised if a lack of driver/conductor was responsible, the Purples do tend to drop first with ticket acceptance quickly put in place on First 47/48/51 services

 

[33117]

Anybody know when the trams are likely to get an interior refresh? It was supposedly said from what I'd heard that they'd get freshened up as internally they are very scruffy.

Also there's been mutterings now for ages about wanting to expand the network since it came back under local authority control again.

Questions are:

What Routes?
Is there a need to expand or is the current system decent enough?
Is there funding in place or could be to do the above????

 

[eastwestdivide]

Bit of a wild card earlier today - tram-trains being slightly delayed around Magna because of a deer on the line! Couldn't believe my eyes. So here's my terrible photo. The deer is on the right hand track.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

Anybody know when the trams are likely to get an interior refresh? It was supposedly said from what I'd heard that they'd get freshened up as internally they are very scruffy

A few that I travelled on today had new seat covers (as well as some with threadbare old ones).

 

[The Pelican]

Trambi

 

[ALEMASTER]

The third area of planned rail replacement works have just concluded, replacing the diamond crossing at Gleadless Townend (where the trams from Halfway cross over the line to Herdings before heading down into the tram stop).

The next area of rail replacement works is a level crossing between Beighton and Halfway which will see a weekend closure with trams turning at Beighton, after that there is Tramlines music festival with lots of extra trams running and some changes to routes at certain times.

 

[joseph0m]

I noticed a tram train heading southbound from Hillsborough park the other day, undergoing “Driver training”. Are they simply just using them as extra vehicles for route learning or is there something else happening that I’m not aware of? I’ve never seen them on the yellow route up there so I had to do a double take!

 

[sytransport]

I noticed a tram train heading southbound from Hillsborough park the other day, undergoing “Driver training”. Are they simply just using them as extra vehicles for route learning or is there something else happening that I’m not aware of? I’ve never seen them on the yellow route up there so I had to do a double take!

Citylink trams are capable of using the full network when not using the tram-train wheel profile (I think there’s only one or two like this) and drivers have to be trained on them for this reason. Not seen one in service for a while on normal Supertram network.

 

[Bryson]

I noticed a tram train heading southbound from Hillsborough park the other day, undergoing “Driver training”. Are they simply just using them as extra vehicles for route learning or is there something else happening that I’m not aware of? I’ve never seen them on the yellow route up there so I had to do a double take!

The 399's are regularly used on the Yellow route to Middlewood. It's not at all unusual to see them standing at the Terminus. Some of them are still fitted with the tram wheel profile that allows them to run anywhere on the system. The Tram Train profile is restricted to areas where rail replacement has taken place, this is expanding with each project.

 

[JD2168]

On Friday I noticed:
111 has a new overall advert for Monzo
399206 in service on Purples, not seen this one for a long while

 

[ALEMASTER]

On Friday I noticed:
111 has a new overall advert for Monzo
399206 in service on Purples, not seen this one for a long while

The Purple was running an enhanced service extended to Malin Bridge to an increased frequency that weekend for Tramlines music festival so every serviceable tram was pressed into service!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2026 ==

Next area of rail replacement works starts on Saturday 8 August and this is a big one with the Delta Junction being replaced (Fitzalan Square-Hyde Park/Sheffield Station).

Trams running Cathedral to Middlewood/Malin Bridge, Sheffield Station to Halfway/Herdings and Woodbourn Road to Meadowhall/Parkgate.

Replacement buses Cathedral to Granville Road and Cathedral to Woodbourn Road.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Crikey, that’s 8-31 Aug!
More info here:

Supertram renewal works near Fitzalan Square. - Travel South Yorkshire

Find out more information about the network improvement and renewal works taking place near Fitzalan Square from 8 to 31 August 2026, including replacement bus timetables and stop locations.

www.travelsouthyorkshire.com

from which:

During this time, we will be renewing the main tram junction – known as the Delta junction, above Park Square roundabout in Sheffield city centre. Works will include – replacing worn track, points, signalling equipment and pedestrian crossings. The Delta junction is of vital importance to the network and is used by all tram services – over 440 trams run over it each day – and after 32 years of operation the junction is in need of renewal. Once complete, this £3.5m project will improve the ride quality and ensure the junction is fit for another 30 years of operations.

We will also be replacing the track where it crosses Bernard Road near Hyde Park tram stop. By planning these works together, we reduce the need for further closures in the future.

 

[ALEMASTER]

Crikey, that’s 8-31 Aug!
More info here:

Supertram renewal works near Fitzalan Square. - Travel South Yorkshire

Find out more information about the network improvement and renewal works taking place near Fitzalan Square from 8 to 31 August 2026, including replacement bus timetables and stop locations.

www.travelsouthyorkshire.com

from which:

Yes, although I gather 28th onwards is contingency and there is a hope to reopen the network in time for the Rock & Roll Circus event on the evening of the 27th if testing and commissioning of the new installation is finished that morning.

 

[Mike99]

Hi, I'm travelling, in October from Rotherham at 22.05 changing at Tinsley at 22.08, to go on to Meadowhhall Interchange, I see a yellow route arrives at Interchange at 22.11. Does anyone know if this connects at Tinsley (Yellow route doesn't seem to give a departure time)? Either scheduled, missed or is it pot luck!

 

[py_megapixel]

Hi, I'm travelling, in October from Rotherham at 22.05 changing at Tinsley at 22.08, to go on to Meadowhhall Interchange, I see a yellow route arrives at Interchange at 22.11. Does anyone know if this connects at Tinsley (Yellow route doesn't seem to give a departure time)? Either scheduled, missed or is it pot luck!

I don't believe there are any guaranteed connections on Supertram, and it looks like Tinsley to Meadowhall Interchange is 3 minutes. So you might just make it but I'd not rely on it.

There's an X2 bus that leaves Rotherham Interchange at 21:48 and arrives at Meadowhall at 22:03. Would that meet your needs?

 

[Mike99]

I don't believe there are any guaranteed connections on Supertram, and it looks like Tinsley to Meadowhall Interchange is 3 minutes. So you might just make it but I'd not rely on it.

There's an X2 bus that leaves Rotherham Interchange at 21:48 and arrives at Meadowhall at 22:03. Would that meet your needs?

Yes, thank you for that info

 

[waterboo]

Seems quite a stretch to keep units away from the depot for such an extended period. What provisions have they got to keep the fleet running?

 

[edwin_m]

Seems quite a stretch to keep units away from the depot for such an extended period. What provisions have they got to keep the fleet running?

They may be phasing the works so there are periods with one track available to swap trams back to the depot.

 

[ricoblade]

Interesting seeing the drivers manually changing the points east of the Cathedral stop to swap from the incoming track and then reverse back up after changing the points again.

 

[dmncf]

The 399's are regularly used on the Yellow route to Middlewood. It's not at all unusual to see them standing at the Terminus. Some of them are still fitted with the tram wheel profile that allows them to run anywhere on the system. The Tram Train profile is restricted to areas where rail replacement has taken place, this is expanding with each project.

I assume the 399s with the tram wheel profile (rather than the tram-train wheel profile) can't run onto National Rail tracks?

 

[ALEMASTER]

I assume the 399s with the tram wheel profile (rather than the tram-train wheel profile) can't run onto National Rail tracks?

Correct, tram wheel profile can't go on heavy rail and tram train wheel profile can't run beyond Shalesmoor or Sheffield Station.

 

[JD2168]

The works on the Delta have now finished & trams have returned to normal on this section.

The only disruption now is between Gleadless & Halfway due to a well opening up. This is being covered with buses. The Blue route is instead running from Malin Bridge to Herdings Park meaning the Purple service is suspended.

This does actually free up some trams in case of extra requirements with a music event at Don Valley Bowl this weekend.