Sheffield Supertram & Tram Train news

[ALEMASTER]

Is this not the third or fourth time the section west of Shalesmoor has been closed in the last few years? Just how frequently do those rails need replacing?!?

it isn't the same rails every time! The embedded rail replacement programme is renewing the entire network over a few years but there isn't the appetite to close down everything for a very long period to do an entire route in one go, just sections at a time during the school holidays. This time it is the line at Hillsborough outbound tram stop and Infirmary Road (just after Shalesmoor tram stop) - source of information https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-GB/supertram/Hillsborough-works-24-to-31-October-2026

 

[Big M]

A question to be asked is if these frequent rail replacements were carried out in the old days. Were trams through the centre of Sheffield stopped for days on end and on a regular basis whilst the cobbled streets were ripped up?

 

[ALEMASTER]

A question to be asked is if these frequent rail replacements were carried out in the old days. Were trams through the centre of Sheffield stopped for days on end and on a regular basis whilst the cobbled streets were ripped up?

Problem Supertram has compared to "the old days" is because the whole system was built at the same time the whole system has become life expired at the same time.

There's a political preference to only close lines to rail replacement during school holidays when kids aren't relying on trams to get to school so only limited windows to do it.

 

[Harpers Tate]

A question to be asked is if these frequent rail replacements were carried out in the old days. Were trams through the centre of Sheffield stopped for days on end and on a regular basis whilst the cobbled streets were ripped up?

For some of it at least, there would be an alternate route they could take. As happened to me in Amsterdam, once.

 

[edwin_m]

There is the option of digging out the surface and leaving the rails in place with a temporary speed restriction, and replacing a section of rail each night. But that may not be possible depending on the trackform. Another option is temporary crossovers, but they would be difficult or impossible in areas shared with other vehicles.