The launch of the South Yorkshire tram-train service in October 2018 was a significant debut, linking a tramway to the UK’s national rail network for the first time. This groundbreaking pilot programme was only possible through close collaboration between the three principal project partners – Network Rail, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Stagecoach Supertram – and its success has been proven by its popularity with passengers, demonstrating how the tram-train concept could work in the UK.
When the pilot began there were no off-the-shelf models or templates; solutions were borne from technical innovation and close working relationships. There were many challenges along the way, and originally a key Government objective surrounded the creation of a summary of knowledge, data and learning in the form of a report.
It quickly became clear, however, that a combination of the wealth of information collected and the intense interest from the industry meant the partners needed to create something much more comprehensive, sustainable, and longer lasting. This included clear and easily digestible data on the costs, benefits and safety requirements of operating a tram-train on the UK’s national rail network; assessing the potential for lower infrastructure capital and maintenance costs compared to alternative rail or tram services; and understanding the level of demand to be derived from the new technology.
The Tram-Train Learning Hub was thus conceived from the beginning as an account of how the pilot was achieved and the result is another UK first – an online repository dedicated to all aspects of tram-train project delivery and operations. It has now become an essential industry resource.