On its 30th anniversary, Sheffield’s iconic Supertram will return to being under control of the local authority.
South Yorkshire Future Trams Limited will officially take over all tram services from Stagecoach on Thursday 21 March.
In the future, there are hopes of expanding services. In the short term, this handing over of power will have little effect on people’s journeys, but residents will see a few changes, including a new Supertram logo, a brand new app, and some fares being discounted by 10% for the first 100 days of operation.
Stagecoach has had control of trams since 1997. The Leader of Sheffield City Council, Tom Hunt, has detailed exciting plans for the extension of the Supertram. He said: “We’re focused on working with the mayoral combined authority and our partners in central government on a plan to reopen disused rail lines.”
The council is preparing to renew disused rail lines across Sheffield to help the city be more connected. The old Sheffield Victoria Station could be reopened to provide tram services to Stocksbridge, as well as through North-East Derbyshire to Chesterfield.
Mr Hunt said: “Lots of people are commuting into Sheffield. By having tram train services running on those disused rail lines, we think that it would take off vehicle traffic from heavily congested roads.”
Plans have also been announced to create a new tram stop in Templeborough, with Network Rail and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) hoping that 200,000 people will use it each year.
However, 20 years ago, plans were proposed to extend tramlines that never came to fruition, leaving much of the public at the time skeptical of transport promises.
The city was the last to abandon its tram service in 1960 and the second to bring it back in 1994 with trams becoming synonymous with the area.
