Having been up and running since 1994, the Sheffield Supertram now operates along 29km of track, and is a vital part of the city’s transport infrastructure.

The first Supertram vehicle was delivered in September 1993 and the first line, from the city centre to Meadowhall, began operation in March of the following year. By October of 1995 the system was fully operational, with 25 trams operating under the auspices of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.

As was always the plan, the franchise to operate the tramway was put out to commercial tender and, in December 1997, awarded to Stagecoach who immediately instigated a systematic approach to passenger growth.

The original tramstop ticket machines, selling tickets that needed validating before travel, were replaced, tentatively at first, in favour of on-board conductors. That move proved hugely popular with the people of South Yorkshire and each tram now has a dedicated driver and conductor team supported by extra ‘roving’ conducting staff at busy times.

Today, after 12 years of service, Stagecoach Supertram carries 13 million passengers a year, a figure that is steadily rising. This helps ease the burden on the region’s roads, with obvious environmental benefits.
Currently served by five park-and-ride sites offering approximately 350 parking spaces each, the tramway offers a real alternative to car users working in the city centre, particularly at peak periods. It also provides easy access to the rail station, shopping areas, both of Sheffield’s universities, the cathedral, sports arenas, and many new popular entertainment venues.

Beyond the transport benefits, the scheme has also helped encourage economic growth. Many of the areas through which Supertram travels have been the focus of regeneration programmes. One example is in the Lower Don Valley, where a new leisure and restaurant complex on a tram route stands on the site of some of Sheffield’s once-famous steelworks. The complex even commissioned its own tramstop, which was built after the tramway began operation.

The latest activity at Stagecoach Supertram is a £2m ‘refresh’ project, the aims of which are to maintain and improve passenger and staff comfort, enhance the tram’s interior and ambiance and improve accessibility for all.

The Disability Discrimination Act requires passenger-carrying vehicles to meet its guidelines for access and safety by 2020, and over the next two to three years Supertram will comply with many of them. In the low-floor vicinity, four fixed seats have been removed in favour of a dedicated regulation wheelchair area, while at least five seats at each end of the tram are designated as priority seats with symbols actually woven into the moquette.

As well as providing an up-to-date image for the system, the project will also ensure that the vehicles retain their high standards of reliability by identifying and updating some of their older components.

For the future, plans have been submitted to the Department for Transport seeking a line extension to Rotherham, and a loop to take in some of the city’s hospitals. Given the vital role that the system plays in local transport policies, a positive decision is hoped for this year.