Tram Trains thread

[BigAl1 143]

Just searched on journey planner for 26th October for times and fares but new service does not even feature

[Bargepole23 337]

It is ironic this culture is so careful, scared almost of new technology and prepared to throw so much time money at testing a little train. Yet puts the cheapest deadliest cladding on the towers of it's lowest classes without even thinking about the consequences.

 

You have no idea what they are testing, or what is involved in that testing.

[Hook 10]

There was a chap having a discussion about Tram-Train on the tram with the conductor this morning that turned quite heated when the conductor pointed out that the mans monthly megarider wouldn't be valid on the new service - nor apparently would weekly/daily ones... surely that's not the case?

 

The conductor is wrong. All tram only tickets (daily, weekly, monthly, unirider etc) will be valid to Rotherham. Citywide and tickets which are ‘and bus’ will not be valid (blame Stagecoach bus who wanted nothing to do with the ticketing). The more expensive mega rider tram+bus tickets will not be valid, but cheaper tram only ones will be.

 

---------- Post added 05-10-2018 at 19:12 ----------

 

Just searched on journey planner for 26th October for times and fares but new service does not even feature

 

That’s because they haven’t been announced yet. You won’t be able to search for something which hasn’t been announced!

 

However you’ll be looking at a short distance fare & return being between Arena and Parkgate, and see my other post regarding weekly tickets.

 

I believe they are planning on releasing timetable details and fares next week.

Edited October 5, 2018 by Hook

[Annie Bynnol 612]

It is possible to infer from the railway timetable that the tram-train timetable will be similar to this:

 

Sheffield Cathedral to Parkgate

First tram at 05 27

then xx 38, xx 00 and xx 27

Last tram at 22 00

+17 minutes for Meadowhall South and 24 for Rotherham Central.

 

These are the 'paths' available between the current passenger and freight trains.

The paths available on the railway section have to adhered to within a minute or two so good timekeeping is essential for all of the Meadowhall route. Therefore there will have been some tweaking to the working timetable, first published in January. Very early and late tram-trains may alter more.

[Hook 10]

It is possible to infer from the railway timetable that the tram-train timetable will be similar to this:

 

Sheffield Cathedral to Parkgate

First tram at 05 27

then xx 38, xx 00 and xx 27

Last tram at 22 00

+17 minutes for Meadowhall South and 24 for Rotherham Central.

 

These are the 'paths' available between the current passenger and freight trains.

The paths available on the railway section have to adhered to within a minute or two so good timekeeping is essential for all of the Meadowhall route. Therefore there will have been some tweaking to the working timetable, first published in January. Very early and late tram-trains may alter more.

 

There’s plenty of time on the Supertram side of things, except for the fact that, (if you’ve spent any time at Cathedral or Tinsley observing/taking photographs you’ll have noticed) there is a yellow always directly in front or behind depending on whether the yellow route is on time or not.

[BigAl1 143]

 

---------- Post added 05-10-2018 at 19:12 ----------

 

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That’s because they haven’t been announced yet. You won’t be able to search for something which hasn’t been announced!

 

However you’ll be looking at a short distance fare & return being between Arena and Parkgate, and see my other post regarding weekly tickets.

 

I believe they are planning on releasing timetable details and fares next week.

 

Not yet announced is one thing but with the complexities of timetable planing and the need to operate in conjuction with both the heavy rail and the other trams then please do not suggest that the times are yet to be decided.

[Annie Bynnol 612]

One problem of any rail system is the inability to pass.

A late running Meadowhall (yellow) could therefore could make a Parkgate service miss its defined slot either through the Tinsley single section, Rotherham Central and/or the return Parkgate crossover, Rotherham Central and Tinsley. The knock on effect could then effect the train services between Sheffield and Swinton and beyond.

 

Mainline signallers will know if the freight diagrams are being used in advance and also the published working timetable shows how they might cope with some of the late tram-trains.

 

Cancelling a Parkgate service would mean running empty to/from Depot with the possibility of a an unacceptable 39 minute wait for the next Parkgate tram.

A Yellow could be passed at Nunnery Depot or even by running into the triangle or station crossover.

 

My guess is that because there is a big increase in frequency of services to Meadowhall South. They will cancel, run as empty or non-stop to Meadowhall Interchange or turn back early, late running Yellow trams so that they can pick up their return path on time.

 

We shall soon see.

[BigAl1 143]

One problem of any rail system is the inability to pass.

A late running Meadowhall (yellow) could therefore could make a Parkgate service miss its defined slot either through the Tinsley single section, Rotherham Central and/or the return Parkgate crossover, Rotherham Central and Tinsley. The knock on effect could then effect the train services between Sheffield and Swinton and beyond.

 

Mainline signallers will know if the freight diagrams are being used in advance and also the published working timetable shows how they might cope with some of the late tram-trains.

 

Cancelling a Parkgate service would mean running empty to/from Depot with the possibility of a an unacceptable 39 minute wait for the next Parkgate tram.

A Yellow could be passed at Nunnery Depot or even by running into the triangle or station crossover.

 

My guess is that because there is a big increase in frequency of services to Meadowhall South. They will cancel, run as empty or non-stop to Meadowhall Interchange or turn back early, late running Yellow trams so that they can pick up their return path on time.

 

We shall soon see.

 

Wonder if tram tickets will be valid on Northern when tram cancelled (and of course the otherway round)

[Thorpist 72]

Does the catchment area for super tram make the project economically viable?

Rawmarsh and Parkgate seem to be the only places that will benefit from this service.

Maybe the train from Doncaster that passes through Swinton could have stopped at a station at the retail park thereby negating the need for the tram.

[BigAl1 143]

Does the catchment area for super tram make the project economically viable?

Rawmarsh and Parkgate seem to be the only places that will benefit from this service.

Maybe the train from Doncaster that passes through Swinton could have stopped at a station at the retail park thereby negating the need for the tram.

 

A little late to be asking this!!!!!

[Annie Bynnol 612]

The tram-train project is not economically viable as all light railways are.

 

Nearly every penny of the project has been paid for by the Government, so the infrastructure of tram-trains, poles, tracks, platforms,electrics and knitting is paid for.

 

The question is will it be economically viable to run- probably not. In the near future as the Stagecoach contract ends, the current consultation and the paid for trial ends there will be some decisions to be made.

 

The £5 billion rail, tube, tram and bus subsidy that London gets from the nations tax payers should perhaps be shared out.

 

Worst scenario is that we have had seven new trams and the track replaced for free.

Edited October 6, 2018 by Annie Bynnol

[Hook 10]

Not yet announced is one thing but with the complexities of timetable planing and the need to operate in conjuction with both the heavy rail and the other trams then please do not suggest that the times are yet to be decided.

 

The tram side of things is still being adjusted.