bladesman123
Member
http://www.rothbiz.co.uk/2014/06/news-4190-preparations-for-tram-train.html
[Mod Note - Extract provided in Post 4]
[Mod Note - Extract provided in Post 4]
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Rotherham Business News said:Plans to upgrade the rail infrastructure in Rotherham are being developed in preparation for the innovative tram train scheme between Sheffield and Rotherham, the first project of its kind in the country.
With funding from the government, the £60m pilot scheme will see flexible vehicles run on both rail and tram networks, using the freight route from Rotherham and then joining the Sheffield Supertram network at Meadowhall South. Operated by Stagecoach, three trams an hour would run all day from Sheffield city centre through the redeveloped Rotherham Central station to Parkgate retail park.
The location of the stop at Parkgate is set to be at the Western end of Stonerow Way, the road that runs behind Parkgate Shopping retail park. Plans have been submitted to change the use of the land to operational railway land to facilitate the installation of electricity sub-station.
The plans also include assessments for the tram train route. The plans show that, at Parkgate, there will be the construction of new lines and platforms along with the electrical sub-station and cabinets which will be constructed on stilts.
As the line travels towards Rotherham Central, the tracks are going to be lowered going under Greasborough Road bridge at Northfrield to accommodate overhead power lines. Similarly, the track will be lowered under College Road at the redeveloped station in Rotherham town centre, where additional platforms and access ramps will also be constructed.
Heading to Meadowhall, tracks are going to be lowered going under Ickles viaduct and at Tinsley, a new tram stop will be constructed along with a new track linking the tram line to the railway line. The vehicles will switch to the current tram network here and carry on the journey to Sheffield Cathedral.
Led by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), Carillion, the company working on the Tinsley Link road, was*awarded*a*contract*to*undertake*initial*design,*investigation*and*site*establishment*works*on*the tram train project.
The pilot will run for two years from 2016 with a view to permanent operation. If it is successful, it opens the way for tram-trains to be introduced in other parts of the country.
The improved connectivity between Sheffield and Rotherham will be a bonus. The main aim of the scheme is to prove that the tram train technology works, determine the practical and operational issues and gauge passenger perception. Popular in Europe, this will be the first time that tram trains have operated in the UK.
The Planning application is reference RB2014/774
Documents are available here
http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1185/02_june_2014
Cases are not in numerical order
I tried searching for the ref no but their search system didn't show me any results.Change of use from highway verge to operational railway land at land off Stonerow Way Parkgate
AGENT:- Network Rail (Property) Floor 3a/59 George Stephenson House Toft Green York TO1 6JT
Is the area where the line passes through in Rotherham one that would never be affected by the effects of the flooding that occurred in 2007 ?
Having spoken in the past to the SYPTE project managers for the Rotherham Central Station rebuilt and the Tram-Train project, I understood that the platforms were to be extended at a lower height, but I've never directly asked so I could having been making an assumptionNew platforms? I understood Sheffield end of existing platforms were to be lowered to tram height.
I understood that the platforms were to be extended at a lower height, but I've never directly asked so I could having been making an assumption
The launch date for the tram-train pilot running between Sheffield and Rotherham has been delayed again with no new date set.
The plan for flexible vehicles to run on both rail and tram networks, using the freight route from Rotherham and then joining the Sheffield Supertram network at Meadowhall South, was scheduled to launch in spring of 2016, after being delayed from 2015. Now the £60m project, to be operated by Stagecoach, will no longer meet even that new deadline, due to problems with the design work to adapt the heavy rail network to allow tram-train style service.
When it is up and running, three trams an hour will run all day from Sheffield city centre through the redeveloped Rotherham Central station to Parkgate retail park.
The pilot project was originally announced by the Department for Transport in May 2012, with final approval for the contracts between the project partners (SYPTE , the DfT, Network Rail, Northern Rail and Stagecoach Supertram) granted in June 2013. The original announcement said the project will see tram-trains operating between the cities of Rotherham and Sheffield from 2015.
A joint statement from SYPTE (the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive) and Network Rail announcing the delay said: Network Rail, who are responsible for these works, are presently undertaking a detailed assessment of their delivery programme, and the project partners are committed to working with Network Rail to mitigate the delay as far as possible. Some of the delay arises from the projects relationship with other heavy rail investment programmes in order to maximise efficiencies, such as signalling control.
Good progress is being made on other aspects of the project, with vehicles being manufactured and works to the tramway and depot to accommodate tram-trains well underway.
Carillion have been working on design and establishment works for the project, including a stop at Stonerow Way, the road that runs behind Parkgate Shopping retail park, and the lowering of tracks at three bridges to accommodate overhead power lines. At the redeveloped station in Rotherham town centre additional platforms and access ramps will also be constructed.
I wonder if the money being squandered on this daft scheme would have paid for double tracking the Holmes Junction-Rotherham Central line and the Dore curve + new platform at Dore, all of which would bring wider benefits. Alternatively spend the money on the existing Supertram system and build a new line to a part of the city not served by rail transport and where people actually live.
I suppose that "somewhere" had to be used for these trials and the existing area of the chosen site was one that already had a sizable tram service in its environs, where the local population were used to such a similar mode of transport.
I suppose that "somewhere" had to be used for these trials and the existing area of the chosen site was one that already had a sizable tram service in its environs, where the local population were used to such a similar mode of transport.
New launch date now announced:This article says there's been a further delay:
http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/sheffield-to-rotherham-tram-train-delayed
http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/rail-news/sheffield-tram-train-new-launch-date-set--january-2017Network Rail route managing director, Phil Verster, said: Tram-train will bring lasting benefits to passengers in the Sheffield and Rotherham areas, and detailed design of the infrastructure to support this exciting project is well underway. We assessed our delivery programme and the work needed to adapt the network is expected to be complete to allow Tram Train passenger services to start in January 2017."
Supertram users are doing very nicely out of this project, having already had replacement tram tracks funded by the taxpayer!South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive interim director general, Ben Still, said: [snip]
The first of seven tram-trains will arrive in September 2015 for testing and people will be able to travel on them on the Supertram network before October 2016, enhancing capacity.
Have your say: new Chord to support Tram Train operations in Sheffield
Monday 2 Feb 2015
Plans for a new section of rail that will allow European-style Tram Trains to run between Britain’s rail and tram network for the first time are out for consultation.
Local residents, landowners, rail and tram passengers are invited to comment on the construction plans for 150 metres of track that will link the railway and Stagecoach Supertram networks at Tinsley. Consultation events are being held at The Skills Source Academy in Sheffield on 6 and 7 February and the plans are also on Network Rail’s website.
Warrick Dent, area director for Network Rail, said: “This is an exciting stage of the project as we consult on plans which, if approved, will turn years of meticulous planning into Britain’s first operational Tram Train service. This will improve journeys between Sheffield and Rotherham and boost the local economy by giving improved access to jobs, education and leisure activities as well as directly creating around 35 new jobs.
“Tram Trains are a common sight in Europe and we believe they could help to improve journey options for passengers around our towns and cities. Even though the Tram Trains run elsewhere, we have had many complex issues to work through with our partners in the project to make sure that the vehicles can operate safely in Britain without causing unnecessary disruption to regular tram and rail passengers.
“We would encourage regular Stagecoach Supertram and Northern Rail passengers, local residents and landowners to view and comment upon the plans.”
The partners in the Tram Train project are Network Rail, Department for Transport, Northern Rail, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Stagecoach Supertram. The project was approved by Government in 2012 and forms part of the Sheffield City Region Devolution Deal.
Tram Trains will provide a direct service and improve journeys between Sheffield city centre, Rotherham Central train station and Parkgate retail park. Tram Trains will use the existing Supertram route between Cathedral and Meadowhall South and then move onto the rail network via the new track that is being consulted upon (known as a “chord”) to Parkgate.
The chord will need:
150 metres of new track with associated ground work
Overhead line equipment to carry the power to the Tram Trains
Lineside equipment including a small new building to house electrical equipment.
An application for a Transport Work Act Order (TWAO) will be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport in spring 2015. There will be a further public consultation as part of this process. Dependent upon the TWAO process and decision, work to construct the chord is expected to start in spring 2016. Construction is expected to take approximately eight months. The consultation events for the first part of that process will be held at:
The Source Skills Academy, 300 Meadowhall Way, Sheffield, S9 1EA
11am – 7pm Friday 6 February and
10am – 2pm Saturday 7 February
Further details can be found at www.networkrail.co.uk/tinsleychord
Interesting that the map appears to show that the Tinsley end of the shared alignment will consist of two segregated single lines, one for the tram-trains and the other for heavy rail. Does anyone know what length of track will actually be shared between light and heavy rail?
Interesting that the map appears to show that the Tinsley end of the shared alignment will consist of two segregated single lines, one for the tram-trains and the other for heavy rail. Does anyone know what length of track will actually be shared between light and heavy rail?
Parallel tram and heavy rail single lines, separated only by the six-foot, are in daily use on Manchester Metrolink, so this part of the pilot scheme will not demonstrate anything new.
They did say that putting the chord in had a few advantages over putting in a crossover at the Sheffield end of Meadowhall South/Tinsley tram stop: no need for new platforms, space for voltage change equipment on the chord if ever the rail line gets electrified at 25kV, and space on the chord to pause trams or turn them back (in either direction) in case of disruption on one or other network. By stopping them there, they wouldn't block either network.