Just watched the local news and apparently the plans to extend the supertram network are probably going to scrapped after a local survey revealed that only 25% would support extension.
This seems to quite sad to me. If it's not to be extended, then it's going to stay a very limited syetm. A very expensive one at that!

I think this could be a case of most people supporting an extension, but as long as the disruption doesn't affect them, which it obviously would do.

Hmm, this seems very unfortunate!

It is indeed a shame, as the tram service is far superior to the bus service, and more frequent than trains.

Whilst the Ranmoor route may be considered inappropriate, down in the Dore & Totley area most people I have heard talking about it are all for the tram, providing the proposed route is altered so it doesn't cut through Millhouses Park destroying the cricket pitch. Also people at this end of town think the tram should be extended beyond Dore station to Totley where there are more houses.

I think there is support for the Dore extension, but SYPTE made a totally poor job on conultation - I don't know anyone who received a copy of the survey they talk about.

If the tram extension isn't going to happen, maybe they could spend some money on improving the train service between Dore and Sheffield, putting an extra bit of track in so a more frequent service can operate.

Not sure about the suggestion of investing in bus services. The only bus services is operated by First - 97,97A,X18 - X18 is a very infrequent long distance route, and the 97/97A look good on paper - every 8 mins daytime, every 15 mins evening, but are very unreliable - 97s often just don't turn up.

As for the comment of tram extensions meaning bus routes in the same direction will be left to wither and close down, just look at the Crystal Peaks/Halfway route - once the trams started then then bus route 41 mysteriously improved with a more frequent service, newer vehicles, later last departures etc. If the buses had been that good before they probably would not have needed the trams!

I personally think the planners should look at how successful the tram is now on current routes, and use that to decide on where to extend it to... instead of asking people on the routes if they want it! After all, if they had asked people 10+ ago if they wanted the disruption most people would probably have said NO... but it seems quite popular now. I reckon it's a case of "not in my backyard!"

Another waste of money. They should have stuffed rotherham and designed the routes in and around sheffield making it good viable alternative to the bus and indeed the car. Why is sheffield so prone to white elephants?

I read in the Telegraph that they may still go ahead with the Dore Station line, but not for at least 10 years!

And the proposed Ranmoor line will most likely be a loop as far as Hallamshire hostpital, down Glossop road and back onto the main line.

I guess for the old an infirm visiting the hostpital who can't walk 50 yards from University it's a good thing. And I guess building anything out as far as Dore would be traffic chaos for quite a while, but I'm certainly dissapointed about that one.

I was thinking if they stopped people parking on Ecclesall Road it would be wide enough to have the tracks going up the middle - like Netherthorpe Road - and it might cause minimal disruption, but that would still hit the businesses hard.

Originally posted by Andy C
It is indeed a shame, as the tram service is far superior to the bus service, and more frequent than trains.

Whilst the Ranmoor route may be considered inappropriate, down in the Dore & Totley area most people I have heard talking about it are all for the tram, providing the proposed route is altered so it doesn't cut through Millhouses Park destroying the cricket pitch. Also people at this end of town think the tram should be extended beyond Dore station to Totley where there are more houses.

I think there is support for the Dore extension, but SYPTE made a totally poor job on conultation - I don't know anyone who received a copy of the survey they talk about.

If the tram extension isn't going to happen, maybe they could spend some money on improving the train service between Dore and Sheffield, putting an extra bit of track in so a more frequent service can operate.

Not sure about the suggestion of investing in bus services. The only bus services is operated by First - 97,97A,X18 - X18 is a very infrequent long distance route, and the 97/97A look good on paper - every 8 mins daytime, every 15 mins evening, but are very unreliable - 97s often just don't turn up.

As for the comment of tram extensions meaning bus routes in the same direction will be left to wither and close down, just look at the Crystal Peaks/Halfway route - once the trams started then then bus route 41 mysteriously improved with a more frequent service, newer vehicles, later last departures etc. If the buses had been that good before they probably would not have needed the trams!

This is just typical of S.Y.P.T.E .

In Manchester or Anywhere else it would have been built by now.

S.Y.P.T.E Bosses = Idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Andy78
a local survey revealed that only 25% would support extension.

Sometimes people have to accept that the planners are right and they aren't. As has been mentioned already, most people wouldn't want the disruption, but you need to look further than the end of your nose - short term disruption, whilst irritating can produce great results which people can benefit from for generations.

Probably a case of NIMBYism, but could also be a case of a lack of understanding.

I for one would welcome the tram coming up to Fulwood, but ONLY if they got some smaller trams that would fit on the narrow roads better than those HUUUUGE monsters they use now.

It would make a lot of sense, especially as lots of hospital and university workers live on the Fulwood / Ranmoor / Broomhill corridor. I think they would be an outstanding success up here after the initial disruption.

.... now if only we can stop mothers taking thier little Jemima's the 200 yds to school in the car!

Its been 10 years since the Supertram came to Sheffield, i'm sure there's more user-friendly designs nowadays - Nottingham's new trams look very different to the ones here.

Just wait until we get congestion charging and you have to pay a fiver (or more) to get into town.

Then it will be "Why doesn't the tram come into our area?" - probably from the same people who oppose it as they want to use their cars at the moment.

I'm always amazed how planning seems to be done at half cock, the entire system was badly planned from day one with uncertainty about financing, and at the end of the day, this is the real deciding factor which determines extension, also, why does so much disruption take place building the track? the lines for Sheffield's old tram network were laid in a remarkably quick time without weeks and weeks of work, is this a case of progress in name only? The supertram is a superb vehicle, but if the network remains as at present, it will remain an expensive toy for big boys.

Originally posted by dinp
Its been 10 years since the Supertram came to Sheffield, i'm sure there's more user-friendly designs nowadays - Nottingham's new trams look very different to the ones here.

They arent great, everyone I know who uses the NET (nottinghams trams) says that sheffields trams are sooo much better design wise, inside anyway

One of the main reasons that the supertram's look so big and overweight is the fact they are the most technologically advance trams made. Dont ask me why they are so technological but I read that from the "rail magazine" a couple of months ago. They had to be that size to accomodate the huge driving motors required to get the trams up the inclines of hills within Sheffield.

I think the trams should run to most parts of Sheffield (like in the old days)......

Originally posted by rickmiles85
One of the main reasons that the supertram's look so big and overweight is the fact they are the most technologically advance trams made. Dont ask me why they are so technological but I read that from the "rail magazine" a couple of months ago. They had to be that size to accomodate the huge driving motors required to get the trams up the inclines of hills within Sheffield.

The old trams were hardly huge monsters and they went everywhere quite happily, and were quite compact, so I think thats a bit of a red herring. The Isle of Man trams are old fashioned tiddlers too and they go up hill n down dale.

I remember hearing that the trams have all-wheel-drive because of the hills, but I think that's because they are so bloomin' big in the first place.

I still think we should have smaller trams and more track that go more places... not bigger trams with little track that go virtually nowhere.

I'm in full support of the dore extension...I would actually use the damn thing if it did go from where I am to where I want to go, without having to use a bus to get to the tram stop.