Sheffield SuperTram - Where to see TramTrain?

[percy vere]

Hi Can anyone tell me where is the best place to find 399 207 in Sheffield?
am I likely to see it running past sheffield station? thanks

 

[DanNCL]

Hi Can anyone tell me where is the best place to find 399 207 in Sheffield?
am I likely to see it running past sheffield station? thanks

399207 (along with 399205) can only run on the original tram network so will be seen running alongside the older trams on the Yellow, Blue and Purple routes so yes, it does run on both of the routes that run past Sheffield station.

 

[percy vere]

399207 (along with 399205) can only run on the original tram network so will be seen running alongside the older trams on the Yellow, Blue and Purple routes so yes, it does run on both of the routes that run past Sheffield station.

many thanks for the info dan much appreciated

 

[JonathanH]

Are 399205 and 399207 actually used much? With reduced timetables, are they actually needed on the traditional network? Do they tend to go out on particular diagrams?

 

[ALEMASTER]

All 4 routes pass through the City Centre core - Cathedral/Castle Square/Fitzalan Square/Delta Junction so if they are in service they will appear there eventually with Cathedral tram stop or Delta Junction being the best for photographs.

 

[JonathanH]

The best thing to do really to take a trip past the depot first, preferably on a train from Sheffield to Darnall as it runs closer to the stabling sidings. Statistically, I'd imagine that is the most likely place to see them.

 

[Nean]

All 4 routes pass through the City Centre core - Cathedral/Castle Square/Fitzalan Square/Delta Junction so if they are in service they will appear there eventually with Cathedral tram stop or Delta Junction being the best for photographs.

Indeed- Either sitting up at Cathedral (I'd avoid Castle & Fitzalan Squares as the area surrounding isn't the best at the moment) or by the triangle junction on Park Square (where there are a couple of benches literally looking at the line in a park) are the best places IMO. Personally I'd go to the junction as the park up there can be quite nice in the sun and is a lot less busy than the centre of town, and as a bonus is only about a 3-5 minute walk from either the station or Fitzalan Square/Ponds Forge stop.

 

[ALEMASTER]

tram 207 is out on the Purple route today.

 

[A Challenge]

Why are 205 and 207 only allowed on the original network, I know there were never plans to need them to Rotherham but it seems restrictive saying those two can't go to Rotherham?

 

[ALEMASTER]

Why are 205 and 207 only allowed on the original network, I know there were never plans to need them to Rotherham but it seems restrictive saying those two can't go to Rotherham?

205 and 207 are trams rather than tram trains (different wheel profiles).

The tram train project required 4 trams (3 in service and 1 on maintenance), the other 3 were a separately funded project to increase the tram fleet. They are all Stadler Citylink vehicles, just not all with the tram train wheel profiles.

Only tram train wheel profiles can safely operate on Network Rail, however on the tramway that profile is restricted to Meadowhall-Shalesmoor/Sheffield Station as the infrastructure hasn't been adapted on the rest of the network.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Originally 201-204 were fitted with wheels profiled to allow Network Rail running. There's a little logo low down on the bodyside showing the wheel profile.
Shortly after the public opening, one tram was knocked out at a crossing, so they fitted 206 with the tram-train profile wheels to cover. Then another got knocked out but they reformed the good bits of the accident-prone pair (202 and 204) into a usable unit.
Now the broken bits are back from repair, and I think the reformation still stands. If you look at the individual vehicle (segment) numbers that run in the 999xxx series, they don't match on 202 and 204 (at least that was the case last time I looked - in Feb 2020!).
I don't know if 206 still has NR profile wheels.

 

[DanNCL]

The plan is eventually to fit 205 and 207 with tram-train bogies and operate all 7 of the 399s as one fleet that can cover the full network. This is expected to be done once the Supertram track renewal project is complete.

Shortly after the public opening, one tram was knocked out at a crossing, so they fitted 206 with the tram-train profile wheels to cover. Then another got knocked out but they reformed the good bits of the accident-prone pair (202 and 204) into a usable unit.
Now the broken bits are back from repair, and I think the reformation still stands. If you look at the individual vehicle (segment) numbers that run in the 999xxx series, they don't match on 202 and 204 (at least that was the case last time I looked - in Feb 2020!).
I don't know if 206 still has NR profile wheels.

The reformations both still stand and are unlikely to ever change. A couple of the older trams have been misformed for many years.

 

[AM9]

The plan is eventually to fit 205 and 207 with tram-train bogies and operate all 7 of the 399s as one fleet that can cover the full network. This is expected to be done once the Supertram track renewal project is complete.


The reformations both still stand and are unlikely to ever change. A couple of the older trams have been misformed for many years.

Out of interest did the tram-trains involved in collisions fare any better than those in the regular tram fleet?

 

[DanNCL]

Out of interest did the tram-trains involved in collisions fare any better than those in the regular tram fleet?

I don’t know to be honest. I don’t recall how badly the older trams fared in the collisions that caused the reformations as they were several years ago.

 

[plugwash]

I remember when I rode on the tram train a few years back the ride quality on the tramway was far worse than on the regular trams. Once it was out onto the NR track it got much better, is that still the case?