Would a line from Sheffield to Stocksbridge be viable? And will it happen (even if not viable!)...

[HST43257]

25k? Obviously I could have googled that and didn't, but if I had I'm not sure I'd have believed it! I'd have thought 7-8k tops. I do wonder how large the area is that is considered Penistone in order to arrive at that figure. See also the population figure for Bradford, which includes places as distant as Keighley.

If you have the red outline on Google maps, the Penistone area includes Hoylandswaine, but not Thurlstone or Oxspring. Google also tells me a 22.9K population.

 

[johnnychips]

More relevant is this one from just over a year ago: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...and-will-it-happen-even-if-not-viable.199491/. tbtc goes into great depth about the problems with restoring services to Stocksbridge, it's well worth a read

I agree it is a great idea to read this thread. @tbtc really makes some excellent points.

 

[tbtc]

Interesting to see a thread about Stocksbridge again - given that the local MP has posted this on Wednesday (budget day in the UK, for anyone reading from overseas):

Currently, poor connectivity and a rundown town centre limit opportunity, particularly for young people. Through this town deal, they will benefit from being able to access post-16 education at a new centre in the town, as well as better sports facilities. The Manchester Road area will be brought back to life, with empty shops and derelict buildings renovated and linked directly to the successful Fox Valley retail centre by a new funicular railway.

£24.1 million agreed for Stocksbridge Town Deal

Miriam Cates MP expresses her delight at today's Budget announcement of £24.1 million funding to transform Stocksbridge, Deepcar, and their surrounding areas.

www.miriamcates.org.uk

Cates is a poster girl for "Blue Wall" Conservatives - she's on the front foot about a lot of things and seems to be very good at getting money out of the Treasury (e.g. local leisure centres around Sheffield have suffered a lot during Covid, closing due to funding issues, but Cates managed to squeeze money for refurbishment of the Leisure Centre at Stocksbridge whilst everyone else was struggling).

I don't know much more about the plans for a funicular railway but every time Stocksbridge gets mentioned I feel compelled to mention the gradients - the Stocksbridge/ Deepcar connurbation look like a long thin town on a map but the hillside makes it unlikely that all locals will be delighted to swap a bus link from Sheffield (or MIddlewood tram stop, where the frequent Stagecoach service is timed to connect with trams) for a train that dumps them at Fox Valley.

For example, Fox Valley is 500 ft above sea level - the Rugby Club is only 0.75 miles away but 900ft above sea level - it may look like walking distance but only downhill!

 

[geordieblue]

Tyne & Wear Metro would have to disagree with you there

I came here to say this. I guess the difference with the Metro is the fairly intensive service over a short distance - I can't imagine there would be more than a tram or two travelling to / from Stocksbridge at any time. Single lines don't exactly lead to punctuality though!

 

[YorksLad12]

More relevant is this one from just over a year ago: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...and-will-it-happen-even-if-not-viable.199491/. tbtc goes into great depth about the problems with restoring services to Stocksbridge, it's well worth a read.

I agree it is a great idea to read this thread. @tbtc really makes some excellent points.

Although it's slightly confusing that that thread has the same title as this thread...

I don't know much more about the plans for a funicular railway but every time Stocksbridge gets mentioned I feel compelled to mention the gradients - the Stocksbridge/ Deepcar connurbation look like a long thin town on a map but the hillside makes it unlikely that all locals will be delighted to swap a bus link from Sheffield (or MIddlewood tram stop, where the frequent Stagecoach service is timed to connect with trams) for a train that dumps them at Fox Valley.

For example, Fox Valley is 500 ft above sea level - the Rugby Club is only 0.75 miles away but 900ft above sea level - it may look like walking distance but only downhill!

Indeed - hence my comment about connecting tram/tram-train from Middlewood to the rail line. Leeds Bradford International Airport Parkway looks a doddle in comparison.

 

[johnnychips]

Just to add a couple of points:
- it would be impossible to build a tram route through the parts of Deepcar and Stocksbridge where people actually live. It’s not so much the steepness, but the roads are too narrow. At present, the buses are always waiting for gaps in traffic, with cars parked on the pavement.
- there was an idea to reopen the direct line to Penistone from Sheffield. Last Sunday I walked the disused line, now part of the Trans-Pennine trail from Thurgoland to Penistone. There must have been at least two hundred walkers and cyclists using it, and this is a conservative estimate. In February.

 

[HSTEd]

Just to add a couple of points:
- it would be impossible to build a tram route through the parts of Deepcar and Stocksbridge where people actually live. It’s not so much the steepness, but the roads are too narrow. At present, the buses are always waiting for gaps in traffic, with cars parked on the pavement.
- there was an idea to reopen the direct line to Penistone from Sheffield. Last Sunday I walked the disused line, now part of the Trans-Pennine trail from Thurgoland to Penistone. There must have been at least two hundred walkers and cyclists using it, and this is a conservative estimate. In February.

Not sure its a good idea to use current estimates for walkers and such to represent normal reality.
People are basically barred from most other activities and have been for months after all.

Some places have trams only going one way down specific streets, for example Nottingham has the tram go down a residential street (Noel Street tram stop and its vicinity), Sheffield trams might be wider but by only ten inches.

EDIT:

How about a one way loop with one line climbing up the valley side before Deepcar/Stocksbridge, running along the top of the settlement, then dropping down and running back along the valley floor? That way noone has to walk uphill to a tram stop to go to Sheffield.
For bonus points you could have an extra tram that just ran around the loop all day.