‘We must be realistic over calls to extend Supertram’

TRANSPORT CHIEFS say they must be ‘realistic’ when it comes to calls to expand Sheffield’s Supertram.

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, which owns the tram network, was awarded £1.573 million by the Government at the end of last year to prepare a business case for up to £230m of further investment.

Ben Gilligan, SYPTE director of public transport, said it was working to identify when aspects of the existing network would need to be renewed, from the trams themselves to tracks, overhead lines and stops.

It hopes to complete its draft proposals for funding next year, before submitting a final case to the Department for Transport in 2019.

Mr Gilligan made it clear the study was about renewing existing services, not introducing additional routes or trams, and the £230m figure was a very loose estimate of what might be available to bid for.

He said Sheffield City Region was embarking on a separate project to look at the future transport provision across South Yorkshire, which would encompass the possibility of additional tram routes.

“I think the tram network as it stands is a good model. It’s successful, it’s growing and it has reasonably high levels of satisfaction,” he said.

“There will be additional capacity next year when the tram train to Rotherham is launched.

“I think we have a compelling case for maintaining the current provision.

“I’m agnostic on whether there’s a strong case to extend or not. I think we should explore all the options for improving connectivity in the city region. It’s not just about Sheffield.”

Stocksbridge councillor Jack Clarkson has said it ‘desperately needs’ a rail connection to the city centre, as roads are struggling to cope, and MP Angela Smith said it was ‘vital’ SYPTE reconsiders extending the tram service there.

Responding to their calls, Mr Gilligan said: “What we would have to do is to understand whether the level of demand is there in Stocksbridge that would justify the investment, and the level of frequency we could provide.

“We have to be realistic. Lots of people might want a tram to Dore and Totley or Stocksbridge, but we have to weigh up the costs and consider what the demand would realistically be if that was built.”