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British Rail Class 399
The British Rail Class 399 Citylink is a type of rail vehicle built by Vossloh on its Citylink platform for operation by South Yorkshire Supertram. Primarily a low-floor tram, it is also capable of being used on the National Rail network; the Class 399 is the first such tram-train to see operational use in the United Kingdom.
In 2013, an order was placed with Vossloh for the construction of a batch of seven tram-trains for Supertram. It operates as a pioneering tram-train hybrid vehicle as part of an initial pilot of the operation of such vehicles. The launch of live services using the Class 399 was repeatedly delayed, reportedly due to planning and development-related difficulty experienced by Network Rail, who were responsible for the installation of additional track and other infrastructure-related changes to accommodate the tram-trains upon the heavy rail network, as well as a necessary full track replacement programme performed by Supertram.
In January 2016, the first tram-train commenced live testing on the Supertram network. The type first entered passenger service on 14 September 2017, but were initially restricted to only some sections of Supertram's network as further work was still required on other parts, including Network Rail lines. Full tram-train service began on 25 October 2018. The results of the trials may become a decisive factor on the adoption of tram-train technology at various other sites across the country.
In 2008, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced plans to operate a trial tram-train service using the Penistone line in South Yorkshire. As initially envisioned, the trial was to function as two-year pilot programme, as the service would be the first use of combined tram-train operations anywhere in the UK. The scheme was jointly delivered by the DfT, Sheffield Supertram, Network Rail, Northern Rail, and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE). The adoption of tram-trains would allow Supertram services to travel on the national rail network, which had the advantages of opening up new routes, integrating multiple transit networks together, and potential for further expansion.
In addition to the local impact of the scheme, it has been anticipated that the trial could be invaluable to transport operators through the United Kingdom. Careful scrutiny is to be applied to the service's reliability and popularity; in the long run, the determined level of success could be a decisive factor on the further implementation of tram-train technology across the country. According to Rob Carroll, major projects manager at Supertram, the tram-train project team has been approached by multiple organisations, highlighting the interest expressed by representatives of the Manchester Metrolink, transport managers studying options for a rail link to Glasgow Airport, and personnel from South Wales. The prospect of being able to readily combine heavy and light rail networks together is considered to be an attractive prospect in some cities.
The originally intended route for the tram-train trials was an unelectrified line and as such, this would have required the procurement of a number of specially built vehicles due to the necessitity for them to be diesel powered, as there were no plans to include electrification as part of the trial. Originally, the trial was intended to start operating for two years from 2010, but in 2009, the proposal was revised as the original plan had not included any on-street running. The revised proposal envisaged the use of the Supertram network, using a new link constructed to connect it to the Dearne Valley line to Rotherham, that would then allow trams to operate on both heavy rail and light rail lines. As part of the project, the line would be electrified, allowing more cost-effective electric vehicles to be procured. In May 2012, approval for the tram-train trial was granted by the DfT, along with a commitment of £58 million towards the construction of a 400-metre (1,312 ft 4 in) chord to serve as the link between the Network Rail and Supertram networks, as well as the electrification of 8 miles (13 km) of the route to Rotherham and the purchase of seven new tram-train vehicles.
In June 2013, Vossloh España was selected to construct the new tram-trains with the first scheduled to be delivered in September 2015. Under Supertram's numbering system, the seven units were numbered 201–207. In order to operate onto the mainline railway network, they were additionally registered as Class 399 units 399201–399207 under the TOPS scheme. The first was delivered in December 2015. The last was delivered in November 2016.
The tram-train service has been delayed many times due to different factors. While the first deliveries of the tram-trains themselves were due to happen in September 2015, this deadline was subsequently put back to December 2015. In October 2015, it was announced that the tram-train project had been delayed by one year. A Network Rail spokesman stated at the time that the project would be delayed until 2017 and attributed this to the organisation having to wait for the needed permission of the transport secretary to carry out the construction of new track at Tinsley.
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British Rail Class 399 AI simulator
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British Rail Class 399
The British Rail Class 399 Citylink is a type of rail vehicle built by Vossloh on its Citylink platform for operation by South Yorkshire Supertram. Primarily a low-floor tram, it is also capable of being used on the National Rail network; the Class 399 is the first such tram-train to see operational use in the United Kingdom.
In 2013, an order was placed with Vossloh for the construction of a batch of seven tram-trains for Supertram. It operates as a pioneering tram-train hybrid vehicle as part of an initial pilot of the operation of such vehicles. The launch of live services using the Class 399 was repeatedly delayed, reportedly due to planning and development-related difficulty experienced by Network Rail, who were responsible for the installation of additional track and other infrastructure-related changes to accommodate the tram-trains upon the heavy rail network, as well as a necessary full track replacement programme performed by Supertram.
In January 2016, the first tram-train commenced live testing on the Supertram network. The type first entered passenger service on 14 September 2017, but were initially restricted to only some sections of Supertram's network as further work was still required on other parts, including Network Rail lines. Full tram-train service began on 25 October 2018. The results of the trials may become a decisive factor on the adoption of tram-train technology at various other sites across the country.
In 2008, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced plans to operate a trial tram-train service using the Penistone line in South Yorkshire. As initially envisioned, the trial was to function as two-year pilot programme, as the service would be the first use of combined tram-train operations anywhere in the UK. The scheme was jointly delivered by the DfT, Sheffield Supertram, Network Rail, Northern Rail, and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE). The adoption of tram-trains would allow Supertram services to travel on the national rail network, which had the advantages of opening up new routes, integrating multiple transit networks together, and potential for further expansion.
In addition to the local impact of the scheme, it has been anticipated that the trial could be invaluable to transport operators through the United Kingdom. Careful scrutiny is to be applied to the service's reliability and popularity; in the long run, the determined level of success could be a decisive factor on the further implementation of tram-train technology across the country. According to Rob Carroll, major projects manager at Supertram, the tram-train project team has been approached by multiple organisations, highlighting the interest expressed by representatives of the Manchester Metrolink, transport managers studying options for a rail link to Glasgow Airport, and personnel from South Wales. The prospect of being able to readily combine heavy and light rail networks together is considered to be an attractive prospect in some cities.
The originally intended route for the tram-train trials was an unelectrified line and as such, this would have required the procurement of a number of specially built vehicles due to the necessitity for them to be diesel powered, as there were no plans to include electrification as part of the trial. Originally, the trial was intended to start operating for two years from 2010, but in 2009, the proposal was revised as the original plan had not included any on-street running. The revised proposal envisaged the use of the Supertram network, using a new link constructed to connect it to the Dearne Valley line to Rotherham, that would then allow trams to operate on both heavy rail and light rail lines. As part of the project, the line would be electrified, allowing more cost-effective electric vehicles to be procured. In May 2012, approval for the tram-train trial was granted by the DfT, along with a commitment of £58 million towards the construction of a 400-metre (1,312 ft 4 in) chord to serve as the link between the Network Rail and Supertram networks, as well as the electrification of 8 miles (13 km) of the route to Rotherham and the purchase of seven new tram-train vehicles.
In June 2013, Vossloh España was selected to construct the new tram-trains with the first scheduled to be delivered in September 2015. Under Supertram's numbering system, the seven units were numbered 201–207. In order to operate onto the mainline railway network, they were additionally registered as Class 399 units 399201–399207 under the TOPS scheme. The first was delivered in December 2015. The last was delivered in November 2016.
The tram-train service has been delayed many times due to different factors. While the first deliveries of the tram-trains themselves were due to happen in September 2015, this deadline was subsequently put back to December 2015. In October 2015, it was announced that the tram-train project had been delayed by one year. A Network Rail spokesman stated at the time that the project would be delayed until 2017 and attributed this to the organisation having to wait for the needed permission of the transport secretary to carry out the construction of new track at Tinsley.