Sheffield Supertram
From Free net encyclopedia
The Sheffield Supertram is a tram network in Sheffield, England. The system is operated by Stagecoach Group under contract from the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. The system currently runs from Sheffield city centre northwest to Middlewood and Malin Bridge, via the University of Sheffield and Hillsborough, northeast to Meadowhall, via Attercliffe, and southeast to Halfway and Herdings Park, via Norfolk Park, Manor, and Gleadless. The network was begun in 1991, and the first section was opened on 21 March 1994, shortly after a similar scheme in Manchester. The system consists of a mix of on-street running, reserved right-of-way and former railway alignment. The Middlewood line runs mainly on the street up to the City Centre. The Meadowhall line runs totally on reserved track. The line from Attercliffe to Meadowhall runs on former railway line alongside a freight line running to Tinsley Yard and the main line at Rotherham Central. The Halfway and Herdings Park lines consist of on-street running (with the exception of a viaduct at Granville Road. The Herdings line runs on reserved track whilst the Halfway line crosses into Derbyshire and out again on reserved lines in the countryside. This line also serves Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre. The City Centre stations are all located on the former alignment of the dual carriagway now buses only.
Image:Supertram Castle Square.jpg
Contents |
Technical data
Image:Sheffield Supertram - Park Square 02-07-04.jpg
The track
The network is 29 km (18 miles), with 60 km of track (120 km of rails). Most of the track runs on streets. 35G-section grooved tram rail is used on those section whilst BS80A standard rail is used on the rest of network. This latter type of rail explains the spring feeling when travelling on these sections.
The overhead wiring
Supertram is powered by 12 electric sub stations dotted along the lines. The wire used is 10.7 cm diameter contact wire. With aesthetic in mind a minimum catenary poles are used and whenever possible the wire is anchored onto neighbouring buildings. Supertram, Sheffield City Council and landlords were in talks to try and hide anchor points as much as possible and blend them into the structures.
Outstanding structures
The Supertram network possesses a few remarkable structures. Two viaducts and one underpass are of interest. The two viaducts carry Supertram onto Park Square, one of them being a six span viaduct, the other the bowstring steel arch Park Square Bridge.
The fleet
The fleet consists of twenty-five trams built by Duewag, a subsidiary of Germany's Siemens AG. The trams have three articulated sections; the outer section are low floored, the middle section has a high floor, and is without doors. Their power supply is 750 volts DC, collected from overhead lines using a pantograph.
Starting in September 2005, the trams manual destination boards were changed to multi-colour LED signs so they will fit with the DDA. In January 2006 a project was started to refit and repaint the fleet. On 27 January the first of these refurbished trams was lauched at the Nunnery Depot. The new livery is similar to the Stagecoach Bus livery, but the doors are painted yellow so that it will fit in the Disablity Discrimination Act.
Image:Supertram Cathedral 02-07-04.jpg
Opening dates
- 21st March 1994: Fitzalan Square to Meadowhall
- 22nd August 1994: Fitzalan Square to Spring Lane
- 5th December 1994: Spring Lane to Gleadless Townend
- 18th February 1995: Fitzalan Square to Cathedral
- 17th February 1995: Cathedral to Shalesmoor
- 27th March 1995: Gleadless Townend to Halfway
- 3rd April 1995: Gleadless Townend to Herdings Park
- 23rd October 1995: Shalesmoor to Middlewood/Malin Bridge
Future plans
Proposals have been made to extend the network to Rotherham, Dore, Fulwood and Maltby. However, following consultations, a reduced scheme with extensions to Rotherham and Broomhill is being considered[1].
Network map
Image:SheffieldSupertramMap.svg
Image:Supertram Sheffield Station 05-07-04.jpg
Image:Sheffield Supertram.jpg
Tram stops
| Yellow Line | Blue Line | Purple Line |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
See also
- Sheffield Tramway—the original Sheffield tramway system.
External links
- Supertram website
- Sheffield Supertram at thetrams.co.uk
- Collection of Google Earth locations of Sheffield Supertram stops (Requires Google Earth software) from the Google Earth Community forum.
- Supertram gallery
| Local rail transport in the United Kingdom | |
|---|---|
| Metros : | Docklands Light Railway (East London) | Glasgow Subway | London Underground | Tyne and Wear Metro |
| Tramways : | Blackpool | Manchester | Midland Metro (West Midlands) | Nottingham | Sheffield | Tramlink (South London) |