Sheffield tram-train from Vossloh

[Snapper]

Whilst I was at Innotrans this week I had chance to take a look at the new Vossloh tram-train they're supplying to both Karlsrhue & Sheffield. Here's a selection of pix and a look at the leaflet showing it in Sheffield colours. Needless to say, the interior may look a little different, but...

Drawing: http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p13662413/hc64f302#hc64f302

Tram (note the doors on one side only):

http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p13662413/h164be256#h164be256

Interior:

http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p13662413/h1b18c366#h1b18c366
http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p13662413/h1b18c366#h15e2f37d
http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p13662413/h1b18c366#h74f6391
http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p13662413/h1b18c366#h26ba7cd

 

[button_boxer]

Doors on one side only can't work for the Sheffield network, they must have a double sided version too.

 

[edwin_m]

The red and yellow tram is for Karlsruhe, but not for the tram-train routes that run onto DB as these require doors both sides and cabs both ends. The other trams in Karlsruhe, including those that go on the Albtalbahn and are nominally tram-trains, are single ended and single sided like those in most German cities. All termini and turnbacks on these routes have balloon loops.

The Sheffield one will indeed be a double sided and double ended version of this.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Would the real tram train units for Sheffield not also require Yellow ends as they'll be running on NR?

 

[edwin_m]

Would the real tram train units for Sheffield not also require Yellow ends as they'll be running on NR?

According to the artist's impression they'll be in Supertram livery with red ends. While this isn't definitive, it's always possible to seek a derogation from this type of standard, which in this case would probably be along the lines of tram-trains having bright headlights and good enough brakes to be able to stop if a track worker doesn't get out of the way.

 

[MK Tom]

I would've thought that windscreen took up so much space to fall foul of the yellow end rules anyway. What is the standard now for how much yellow there should be?

 

[starrymarkb]

1m^2 - See Mendip Rails 59s for how little is actually needed

 

[WillPS]

I thought the new trams were going to have longitudinal seating ala London Overground?

 

[starrymarkb]

I thought the new trams were going to have longitudinal seating ala London Overground?

They might still do. The One at Innotrans is to Karlsrhue spec

 

[WestRiding]

This is the biggest waste of money! Could have just built a station at the back of Parkgate Retail, and make passengers change at the present Meadowhall Interchange. Or just stay on the train for Sheffield (city centre). A better candidate would have been the Deepcar/Stocksbridge line, serving a whole new area, where no passenger trains run at present, linking into the tram system via a chord from the Worksop line to aim the trams into the city centre right direction. Or separate from the branch near Neepsend, along Rutland road, and joining the tram system near Shalesmoor. There are not even going to be any new stations/stops along the planned Tinsley route to justify it or serve any new places. Not even any integrated ticketing, such as been able to board a real train at Goldthorpe or Doncaster, even Inverness and have the ability to purchse a day return to Sheffield Cathedral, changing at Rotherham Central. Disjointed.

 

[unlevel42]

This is the biggest waste of money! Could have just built a station at the back of Parkgate Retail, and make passengers change at the present Meadowhall Interchange. Or just stay on the train for Sheffield (city centre). A better candidate would have been the Deepcar/Stocksbridge line, serving a whole new area, where no passenger trains run at present, linking into the tram system via a chord from the Worksop line to aim the trams into the city centre right direction. Or separate from the branch near Neepsend, along Rutland road, and joining the tram system near Shalesmoor. There are not even going to be any new stations/stops along the planned Tinsley route to justify it or serve any new places. Not even any integrated ticketing, such as been able to board a real train at Goldthorpe or Doncaster, even Inverness and have the ability to purchse a day return to Sheffield Cathedral, changing at Rotherham Central. Disjointed.

As has been said many times this is a trial paid for by HMG to evaluate how to link heavy rail with an urban tram system. It may not continue after the trial ends even if it succeeds technically.
Running tram-trains means the vehicles have to operate according to heavy rail practice and timetable. The current tram designs cannot share heavy rail for platform, gauge, track profile, tyre shape, power, signaling, vehicle construction and safety reasons.
The route from Parkgate provides all of these. The Deepcar route does not. If this works then there is plenty of scope to extend this method to other routes.

As there has never been a station at Stocksbridge and the stations at Deepcar and Oughtibridge require lengthy and hilly walks from their respective populations. They and Wadsley Bridge are much better served by more bus stops and buses every 10 minutes. Nobody lives at Neepsend any more.
To connect the lines between Rutland Road and Shalesmoor would be an enormous and costly project to take the line across the valley. To connect at Nunnery would be easy but mean a lengthy detour.
If you are travelling from Goldthorpe or Doncaster, buy a TravelMaster Gold Day ticket if you want to travel on trams and buses.
If you are travelling from Inverness buy PlusBus.

Changing at Rotherham Central for Sheffield Cathedral would be silly-changing at Sheffield Station would be much faster.

 

[Bafferty]

The transition from tram to rail will be interesting. Supertram drivers get £21k, its reported the tram train drivers will get £25k.

Rotherham is getting a guided bus to Sheffield which will call into residential areas whereas you will get Tinsley-Rotherham Central-Parkgate.

Parkgate is funding the freebee bus service so I cant see people paying to travel Rotherham Central to Parkgate. So it may aim to get commuters from Rotherham to Meadowhall/Sheffield..... but the X78 is just as quick time wise.

I will believe the tram train when the first spade goes in the ground which is yet to happen. OK, 2 trams are being built at the moment which can be integrated into the existing system.

 

[Harpers Tate]

The Rotherham Freebie is supposedly only funded for two years which is until Tram-train starts running (proposed).

Personally I think it was an act of sheer stupidity for funding to be allocated to BOTH the Rapid Bus and Tram-Train projects both serving a substantially overlapping area. (Neither in isolation is a bad thing; but the two together - dumb!). At best, the BRT should have been scoped to serve only the diverged area between Sheffield and the Meadowhall area, and then integrated into Tram-Train for Rotherham, with a couple of new stations on the T-T route.

There was another BRT scheme proposed, now shelved, serving a wholly different area between Rotherham and Sheffield. IMO it would have been a far better use of public money to do the latter alongside.

 

[SuperOwl86]

The guided busway will not last long anyway if it even happens. I think it was more a case of trying to get some money to build the new road under the M1.

 

[unlevel42]

The guided busway will not last long anyway if it even happens. I think it was more a case of trying to get some money to build the new road under the M1.

There is no guided busway.
There is a BRT link being built right now.

The 400m link between Supertram and NR rails is probably due for construction between January and March 2015 as indicated by the possessions.

 

[eastwestdivide]

The guided busway will not last long

Even the original plans show the road (not a guided busway) as available to all traffic**, so there's no reason for buses in general to stop using it, as it would help them bypass the bottleneck of M1 roundabout.
Last time I looked (a couple of months back), there were works going on clearing land at the Meadowhall end, and also preparatory work for the bridge where the new road crosses rail and river.

** see link
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2012/11/01/bids-invited-for-24m-south-yorkshire-link-road/
"The proposed new road would by-pass Junction 34 of the M1 Motorway and provide an alternate route for all vehicles. It would also include priority measures for public transport"

and discussed on here a couple of years back:
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=74155

The 400m link between Supertram and NR rails is probably due for construction between January and March 2015 as indicated by the possessions.

That's useful to know, thanks.
Must try for a photo of the RHTT there before the layout changes.