Government puts up £150,000 for work on tram-train plan

The previous Labour government said in 2009 that it wanted to see a trial take place in South Yorkshire with trams that could transfer onto “heavy rail” tracks.

Mr Baker said his department had now agreed to make new money available to allow detailed work to take place on the “business and project case” for the scheme.

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), train operator Northern Rail and publicly-owned track and signalling firm Network Rail have all carried out preliminary work on the proposed route.

If the feasibility work is successful is it thought that around £20m will be made available to provide a tram-train route between Rotherham town centre and Meadowhall shopping centre.

Trams will be able to run from Sheffield city centre to the shopping centre on an existing tram track but will then transfer to an existing freight line to run through to Rotherham rail station.

Mr Baker said: “These sorts of rail fleets are already in use on the Continent, but this is a first for the UK. The funding we are providing for this exciting project represents a real chance for us to test whether they can be adapted successfully for South Yorkshire and the rest of the UK.”

SYPTE director general David Brown said that work carried out so far had mainly involved staff time spent looking at issues such as safety and what type of vehicles would be required.

He said: “The £150,000 will allow us to look at how we can carry out the signalling and safety work needed. The Government has already bought into the idea and services could be operating from 2014.”

In a second announcement yesterday, Mr Baker said the Government had also given the green light for Sheffield Council to pursue an ambitious scheme to improve its road network.

Highways bosses in the city had been working on a £674m private finance initiative project, but they were told to reduce costs as part of Government austerity measures.

Negotiations have now taken place between the council and civil servants in Westminster which will deliver the required savings and Mr Baker said Ministers were now satisfied that the highways scheme was value for money.