Sheffield Supertram - potential extension suggestions

[Llandudno]

Maybe the South Yorkshire and East Midlands mayors can get their heads together and try and get Supertram extended from Halfway to Eckington as I can’t see it getting any closer to Chesterfield than that?

Stagecoach should really go all ‘Red Arrow’ and run the X17 every 15 minutes between Chesterfield and Sheffield…!

2ph originating from Matlock
1ph from Clay Cross/Danesmoor
1ph from Bolsover

 

[The Pelican]

What makes you say that?

The only reason I can see would be that since we got forced out of SYMCA the difficulties of cross-border agreements would be a challenge.

I'm sure there would be more political will to serve a fairly major traffic flow. Might not be via Dronfield, but there are other routes such as Barrow Hill.

I think the problem is that a Sheffield-Chesterfield tram train has to choose between only stopping where the current trains do- only Dronfield- or adding stops and slowing down a lot. Personally, I'd suggest a "fast" tram train could be a good idea- but both of the current implementations, in Sheffield and Cardiff, are basically all stops.

 

[tbtc]

I've said before that Sheffield is unlikely to get the funding for two new branches of local trail services (whether tram/ team-train/ train) but that Stocksbridge and "Chesterfield via the Old Road" only really make sense when done together

You tie up lose ends, you avoid the need to terminate anything at a reopened Victoria, you create some cross city links, but either project alone would be significantly weaker

That said, there are plenty of issues with the existing tram network that need fixing much sooner.

Both fleet availability and staffing seem worse than under Stagecoach (despite the hype about how the nasty profit making company was holding things back), we're seemingly stuck with an hourly service on one branch (Herdings), which would be unthinkable in Manchester/ Nottingham/ Croydon , the engineering works seem neverending

Yet the playbook is always to dangle an extension (Hospitals! All the way to Doncaster! Dore! Stocksbridge!) instead of focusing on the basics

I'd rather hear how the authorities plan to handle integration of buses and trams under franchising. Will we go back to "feeder" routes/ remove competition?

 

[S101]

I've said before that Sheffield is unlikely to get the funding for two new branches of local trail services (whether tram/ team-train/ train) but that Stocksbridge and "Chesterfield via the Old Road" only really make sense when done together

You tie up lose ends, you avoid the need to terminate anything at a reopened Victoria, you create some cross city links, but either project alone would be significantly weaker

That said, there are plenty of issues with the existing tram network that need fixing much sooner.

Both fleet availability and staffing seem worse than under Stagecoach (despite the hype about how the nasty profit making company was holding things back), we're seemingly stuck with an hourly service on one branch (Herdings), which would be unthinkable in Manchester/ Nottingham/ Croydon , the engineering works seem neverending

Yet the playbook is always to dangle an extension (Hospitals! All the way to Doncaster! Dore! Stocksbridge!) instead of focusing on the basics

I'd rather hear how the authorities plan to handle integration of buses and trams under franchising. Will we go back to "feeder" routes/ remove competition?

Stagecoach ran the tram network brilliantly. They lost interest towards the end, why invest when you're getting kicked out.

Anything ran by the local authority turns to crud. But this is what the people wanted.... Sheffield, you have your wish.

 

[The Pelican]

This link

Next steps set out for Supertram | RailBusinessDaily

The 2026–27 Supertram Business Plan has been launched, setting out the next steps in strengthening and modernising the network. It forms a key part of The 2026–27 Supertram Business Plan has been launched, setting out the next steps in strengthening and modernising the network.

news.railbusinessdaily.com

discusses "plans for a second tram route across Sheffield city center" and "£7.5 million [for] potential tram and tram train extensions"- presumably planning the extensions.

I think an important number will be the relative costs of tram vs tram train extensions- will all on railway tram train stops have to include lifts and footbridges like the Manga stop, or is there a way to have "barrow crossings" like the foot crossings on existing tram lines, to enable cheap two plaform low floor tram stops? Could a future tram train vehicle have some high floor and some low floor doors? The absolute cheapest tram train extension might be extending the existing vehicles north of Rotherham Parkgate towards Doncaster.

 

[YorksLad12]

Any new tram-train station on the heavy rail network will be built in the Magna style - it's all about health & safety. Mind you, I've often seen people walk on the 'wrong' side of the Delta and Park Square Bridge, so I'd say it was a very desirable design.

Back in 2018, SMISM (Sheffield Midland Integrated Station Masterplan) suggested moving the A61 off Sheaf Street and onto Granville Street, with the tram rerouted via Pond Street and Flat Street. You could have both.

I think SYMCA wants new trans to replace the original fleet - they had a bit of a touch-up a year or so ago, but could do with being replaced after 30 years!

 

[The Pelican]

I think the idea of having both routes from the station to the town centre sounds good to me, then it could cross the existing line- ideally via a set of two paralell platforms like St Peters Square in Manchester, otherwise via a 90 degree crossing- then it could continue north to the Wicker arches, climb up to viaduct level, and run tram train services to Stalybridge and Woodhouse. I wonder if a tram train service could have basic tram style stations if there were no non-tram train vehicles using it during normal operation.

 

[D365]

I wonder if a tram train service could have basic tram style stations if there were no non-tram train vehicles using it during normal operation.

With the amount of safety derogations that would be required on Network Rail’s part, I expect that it would be cheaper to simply build the ’heavy’ platforms as per Magna.

 

[YorksLad12]

I think the idea of having both routes from the station to the town centre sounds good to me, then it could cross the existing line- ideally via a set of two paralell platforms like St Peters Square in Manchester, otherwise via a 90 degree crossing- then it could continue north to the Wicker arches, climb up to viaduct level, and run tram train services to Stalybridge and Woodhouse. I wonder if a tram train service could have basic tram style stations if there were no non-tram train vehicles using it during normal operation.

From memory, it's downhill from Fitzalan Square towards Wicker.

My suggestion - if we really did have to open the single line towards Deepcar - would be for a station at Victoria, then for the line to continue on a viaduct crossing the A61 and tying in with the existing viaduct coming down parallel with the road. that would then continue to the rail station and terminate there. There's already two additional northbound and one southbound platform (and points) that could be used to separate services out.