Public control proposed for South Yorkshire tram system

Proposals to bring the operation of South Yorkshire’s tram network back into public control will be considered next week by regional leaders, as part of plans for the system’s future.

The move would mean the running of Supertram services, infrastructure and finances would be controlled by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) when Stagecoach’s current contract for operation of the network ends.

The proposals form part of the region’s wider ambitions to upgrade Supertram, as part of a fully integrated public transport network.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said long-term plans for the network’s future must work for the whole of the region.

He added: “Supertram has been part of our region’s fabric for nearly 30 years. It’s iconic to South Yorkshire and plays a critical role in helping us reach our net zero goal.

“But with that legacy, parts of the system are nearing the end of their design life, and – in the aftermath of the pandemic – passengers are using services differently.

“Our ambitions – for how our communities get to jobs or education, and how they visit family and friends – must work for the whole of our region for a generation to come.

“That is why we are reviewing the  funding and future of our region’s tram network.  I am excited to propose public sector operation as the next stop on Supertram’s journey.

“This will help us develop a long-term approach that integrates Supertram into our wider plans for public transport across South Yorkshire.”

Opened in 1994, South Yorkshire’s Supertram system cost £240m. A Tram Train project extended the network to Rotherham in 2018.

SYMCA recently secured a £100m Government grant to modernise parts of the system, including track and infrastructure improvements and better facilities for passengers.

South Yorkshire leaders will consider proposals to create an ‘arm’s length’ publicly owned company to run the region’s tram system at the Mayoral Combined Authority Board meeting on 18 October.

Stagecoach’s operating contract for Supertram ends in March 2024.