Sheffield’s first test tram-train is about to make the journey from Spain to South Yorkshire.
The 37-metre Citylink Class 399 is due to arrive at Stagecoach Supertram’s Nunnery Square depot on December 1.
It is the first of seven test vehicles to be completed by Vossloh and will operate a two-year trial service between Sheffield and Rotherham from 2017.
The dual voltage tram-train is able to operate under both the 750 V Supertram catenary and the standard 25 kV used on the national rail network. Unlike a typical tram, the new vehicles also feature main line signalling and protection systems, such as TPWS and GSM-R.
The project includes the electrification of the line between Sheffield and Rotherham to 750 V, new tram-train platforms at Rotherham Central and Parkgate, re-profiling of the Supertram network and the construction of the Tinsley Chord – a 160-metre section of track linking the light rail network to the main line network.
