Sheffield Supertram
 

After recently using the Sheffield Supertram for the first time I found it interesting that they run the trams more like Routemaster buses than other tram systems.

By that I mean you buy a ticket from the conductor on board. (There are no ticket machines at tram stops) I didn't travel at a rush hour time so I'm unaware if there are extra conductors on busy trams. Also the tram would not stop between it's first and final stop if there was no-one waiting to board the tram and no-one pressed one of the 'stop' buttons on the trams. That seems a bit pointless during daylight hours as the trams are stopping at every stop to pick up and drop off a number of people.

OK its not trains, but buses, and I hope I dont get struck off the forum !

Your comment about Sheffield public transport not stopping at stops reminded me of when I lived in Sheffield in the late 1970's. The Council had introduced a heavily subsidised uniform bus fare of 2p, which even in those days was ridiculosly cheap:- being about a tenth of a the fare in other towns.

The bus drivers soon realised that the passengers were simply a hassle and inconvenience, as they got paid for running the busses full or empty regardless. It was much easier to not bother picking up passengers and many a time they would drive past a bus stop with people obviously waiting. Or they would stop the bus to let people get off by the middle doors, but refuse to open the front door to let the waiting passengers board because they couldnt be bothered to collect the 2p's.

I had to do a lot of walking in those days. - until I bought an old banger of a car:D

I must confess to knowing very little about the Sheffield Supertram system, but that's how they do things on the Blackpool trams, and I assume how they did it in the heyday of trams. Is the Sheffield Supertram network a traditional tram system, or is it more like the Metrolink in that it runs over disused railway lines?

Adam

Ah! The great days of the People's Republic of South Yorkshire!

This has nothing to do with trains, trams etc but I caught the train to Doncaster a few months ago and made onward travel on a double decker bus. I didn't notice that the bus had a middle door until I wanted to get off and had gone to the front of the bus when the driver told me that I had to leave the bus through the middle doors. It's not something I've seen around Stockport or Altrincham where I more often use public transport. While it may help at peak times, doesn't it make it open to abuse if there's a long queue and someone jumps on in the middle while the driver's taking a fare?

I've not come across double deckers with middle doors in Greater Manchester but the bendy buses which are run by first (135 and 471 routes are where I usually see them) have doors at the front of the back section, and they're only opened if the driver can see that someone is waiting to get off. I suppose the drivers just learn to be vigilant aginst that sort of thing

Adam

What they used to do as I remember was draw up at the stop. First open the middle doors to let people off. Then close them when they saw the last passenger had left, and then open the front doors (or not) to let new people on.

So if you were a bit tardy getting up to get off, you could find the exit doors were suddenly closed in your face and you would have to try ringing the bell again. When the driver would look in the mirror, glare at you, and refuse to open the doors again for you on a point of principle.

Happy Days.

Now that Stagecoach have the East Mids franchise, perhaps they could introduce Sheffield tickets that allow access onto the supertrams or something since they operate them.

Yes that would be a good idear but they already have a Scratch offticket in South Yorkshire that can be used on the Supertram.

But wi would lie to see how they aare getting on with the Manchester Trams also if trams where to come back to lIverpool do we think that Stagcoach will Opertate them and possibley invest some money into it.

As this seems the only way we will get trams back in Liverpool and if Mersey Travel Stop wasting Money on daft things lIke the S1 S2 S3 Bus Routes and those silly adverts on the Buses.

On th subject of Metrolink, I wonder if Stagecoac will chage a few things to make it similar to other tram network like the Sheffield Supertram. Most times I use the Metrolink I never see a conductor onboard, bt for the one day I used a varety of Sheffield suptrams there was a conductor obaord all of them.

There's a tram museum in Derbyshire where your admission price buys an old 1p (or a 1/2p for children) you then take your old coin with you on the tram and pay the conductor who issues and clips tickets, so I'd imagine that's how they use to do it.

I think as the Blackpool trams are traditional English trams and as they only go up and down the sea front they are only really of use to tourists and resort workers, which may be the reason for taking the fares the traditional way. I've never been to Sheffield (apart from changing trains there) but I am aware that it's the modern German type of trams that they use there.

With regards to the museum mentioned in the post by hstudent, it is called the Crich Tramway Village. I went down for a day earlier in the year and it was great. To get there by public transport go to Whatstandwell station, then it's a walk up a VERY steep hill. You could of course get a taxi from the station, but my ways cheaper, if a lot harder. I need a strong drink and a sit down after that anyway!

Adam

A few weeks ago I was in Nottingham and the trams there looked really modern, though I didn't use one at the time. On the subject of the Sheffield supertram, I found this link about them:

http://www.railway-technology.com/pr...heffield-tram/

If anyone is visiting the Crich Tramway Museum let me know. I only live a couple of miles from it! Perhaps we could meet up?

John H-T.

I'll definetly be going again because it was good when I went earlier this year, it won't be until next year, I'll let you know when though.

Adam

I picked up a leaflet published by TP Express last week which lists a lot of add-ons you can buy for your rail ticket. If you buy a ticket to Sheffield there is a 'South Yorkshire supertram' add-on for £1. However, I think that's likely to only be valid in central Sheffield. Not like the Manchester Metrolink where in theory you can buy rail tickets to places on the tram network, not on the rail network such as Bury, Sale and Prestwich. Although if you're unable to get a direct train to Manchester from where you start your journey then apparently ticket office staff are unlikely to know how to issue a combined train and tram ticket.

Did one of the staff members make the joke about someone upsetting Ian Paisley as one of the trams says 'Paisley Cross' on the front?

With regard to the Nottingham Tram. I use it a lot and I think it is superb.
£2.40p(at the moment) buys you a car parking space, a return ticket on the tram and bus rides in the city centre.
Plans to extend the system have just been given the go ahead and I think compulsory purchases of buildings in the way are in motion now. Someone may be able to confirm that.
I have friends in Portsmouth who have just had a similar system cancelled in their city and they think our trams are brilliant.
I still think that we should be going wholesale into these systems for cities. Mind you that would spoil the councils road pricing schemes, that we all know are rushing towards us over the horizon.
Oaul.

Come to Cambridgeshire and help dig up the tracks so we can have the wonderful (?) guided bus running along an old trackbed that could form part of an East West freight line.
Of course you will have to do battle with the trucks and cars on the A14 to get anywhere first.
John (G)