Sheffield/Rotherham Tram-Train update

[martinr1]

Nice videos!

 

[TC60054]

399202 is today’s test vehicle.

 

[martinr1]

Are these tests running every day?

 

[njamescouk]

saw a tram pass on the line at snap time yesterday, plus one last week. also a freight train last week.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Are these tests running every day?

The paths are in the system for Mon-Fri, last week and this week. They didn't run last Friday and last Wed saw a few cancellations.
From Realtimetrains: "Runs SSuX between 16/07/2018 to 27/07/2018"
And there are now more for next week "Runs SSuX between 30/07/2018 to 03/08/2018", it seems with two trams running looking at the timings:
e.g http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea.../30/1354?stp=WVS&show=non-passenger&order=wtt

 

[martinr1]

Thanks for that - most interesting

 

[eastwestdivide]

Looks like the test runs are all cancelled today according to realtimetrains - all paths showing as CAN.

 

[syorksdeano]

Looks like the test runs are all cancelled today according to realtimetrains - all paths showing as CAN.

No signals working

 

[TC60054]

No signals working

They were never planned to run today anyway.

From what I've heard, two out next week with the third joining them the week after, then ghost running will begin...

 

[eastwestdivide]

That's what I thought, the cancellations were in before the lightning struck.
And next week's paths do show two trams required, with the potential to photograph two together at Rotherham Central at 1102:

 

[samuel791]

You may get to see me then lol! The training department have been running all the trips so far, although the 1st phase of driver training commences from Monday after 2 weeks in the classroom. All I know is we start at 0830 and between our pair we get to run 4 trips (8 in total). That will be the case for the next fortnight, then when the next group passes out in 4 weeks time - a 3rd tram should be added, if not sooner.

 

[eastwestdivide]

You may get to see me then lol! ...

Wear a red carnation in your buttonhole, and I might wave (if I'm not busy with work)!

 

[eastwestdivide]

Love it when a plan comes together.
399202 and 399204 crossing at Rotherham Central at just-gone-1100 today (30/7/18)

 

[skifans]

Nice, hopefuly won't be too much longer until they enter passenger service.

 

[martinr1]

Couldn't resist a look at driver training yesterday:-

 

[pdeaves]

I really hope those things that look like ladders on the left platform, 3:00 mark, are temporary and will be removed before the public is let loose!

 

[eastwestdivide]

I really hope those things that look like ladders on the left platform, 3:00 mark, are temporary and will be removed before the public is let loose!

As you might have guessed, they're access from the car park area for the contractors finishing the platforms.
I believe the platforms at Rotherham Central and Parkgate are the only bits of infrastructure that still need completing. Neither locations are properly surfaced. Parkgate has tubes/conduits coming out of the ground, possibly to supply a ticket machine/advertising panel, and has no shelters yet. By the look of it, Rotherham also needs some fencing completed on the ramp from the existing platforms to the tram platforms.
Two trams running again today on test/training, e.g.:

 

[martinr1]

Here's a look at the Meadowhall South end on Monday:-

 

[eastwestdivide]

Nicely done.
Do they come to a stop on the new chord linking the tram network to the National Rail network? It looked like they were slowing to a stop just as they went out of sight in your video.
Did you go up on the Tinsley viaduct (lower deck)? There's a good view from there, if a bit noisy, and getting from one side to the other is a long way round if you don't want to take your life in your hands.

 

[martinr1]

Thank you for your kind remarks. Towards the end the Rotherham bound tram seemed to be awaiting the inbound tram train to clear the single line. I didn't go up onto the viaduct as it was warming up in spite of the wind and I might have run out of puff!!

 

[eastwestdivide]

Answering my own question, I was at Tinsley earlier today, and all the ones I saw paused on the chord, even if there was no other traffic preventing them from proceeding. I'd imagine they have to switch on/off various safety systems, and possibly "check in/check out" with Network Rail's signalling.
399203 and 399204 seen on Parkgate runs today.

 

[pdeaves]

Answering my own question, I was at Tinsley earlier today, and all the ones I saw paused on the chord, even if there was no other traffic preventing them from proceeding. I'd imagine they have to switch on/off various safety systems, and possibly "check in/check out" with Network Rail's signalling.
399203 and 399204 seen on Parkgate runs today.
View attachment 50341

That's an amazingly sharp curve. Given that the tram route parallels NR, and the extension links onto that same NR route, is there any particular reason why they didn't put in something more akin to a crossover, straighter and further east?

 

[marcouk2]

Presumably compromise in negotiating the Tinsley Viaduct, the link road and the Don while keeping the Meadowhall South tram stop on the tram train route.

 

[eastwestdivide]

That's an amazingly sharp curve. Given that the tram route parallels NR, and the extension links onto that same NR route, is there any particular reason why they didn't put in something more akin to a crossover, straighter and further east?

The reasons given (at an open day on the new chord a couple of years back) were (a) to provide a "buffer zone" between the two systems so that late running on one system didn't impinge on the other*; (b) to provide for a DC/AC changeover point in the event of 25kV electrification on the Network Rail side; with the side-effect of (c) Meadowhall South could still be served by the TTs.
*e.g. a TT heading for Rotherham but waiting for a path onto the single track freight line wouldn't delay a following "ordinary" tram for Meadowhall.

 

[_toommm_]

Answering my own question, I was at Tinsley earlier today, and all the ones I saw paused on the chord, even if there was no other traffic preventing them from proceeding. I'd imagine they have to switch on/off various safety systems, and possibly "check in/check out" with Network Rail's signalling.
399203 and 399204 seen on Parkgate runs today.
View attachment 50341

Also, two trams are not allowed to be on the points at the same time - the driver could perhaps be exercising an extended degree of caution to make sure nothing is coming.

 

[TC60054]

201 appears to have made it's first ventures through to Rotherham in the past few days.

 

[johnnychips]

Have we any inkling of an opening date yet?

 

[_toommm_]

Towards the end of the year I believe, as long as there's no problems with the 399s working on the mainline etc.

 

[Skymonster]

Today 205, 206 and 207 were working regular tram runs to Meadowhall to Middlewood, 203 was inside the depot at Nunery Park, and 201, 202 and 204 were doing unloaded tests on the national network / city route between Rotherham and Cathederal.

 

[gtis]

Hi just checked RTT there’s quite a few running tomorrow between Sheffield cathedral and parkgate
Can you see the line and station from parkgate retail park
Neil