Magna Science Adventure Centre: Tram station to open at Yorkshire science attraction to help strengthen transport links between Rotherham and Sheffield
A new tram station is set to open at Magna Science Adventure Centre and will strengthen public transport links between Rotherham and Sheffield.
South Yorkshire will mark a significant milestone with the opening of the new Magna Tram Train station - the first additional stop to be added to the network since its launch in 2018.
The tram station will be opening to the passengers on Thursday, April 9, 2026, and will offer a modern and accessible gateway to the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.
It is also expected to strengthen public transport links between Rotherham and Sheffield, providing faster and more convenient connections for residents, visitors and workers.
The new stop, which will be located near Templeborough and Tinsley, will improve access to two of South Yorkshire’s busiest employment corridors and support wider regeneration goals for the Don Valley Corridor.
The surrounding area is home to hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs across manufacturing, logistics, green industry, retail and hospitality.
The improved transport links are expected to support recruitment, skills development and continued investment across these economic zones.
It has also been designed to help address long standing congestion and air quality challenges in the Lower Don Valley and along the A6178 corridor, areas that include formally designated Air Quality Management Zones.
The new development will make use of underused parking spaces at the Magna Science Adventure Centre and as a result there will be 100 free Park and Ride spaces, along with cycle parking and electric vehicle charging.
These facilities are predicted to encourage cleaner and more sustainable travel, ease pressure around Junction 34 of the M1 and improve local connectivity.
Whilst it is built on heavy rail infrastructure, the station has been designed to offer the accessible and passenger friendly environment expected of the Tram Train network.
The station includes fully accessible platforms, a new pedestrian overbridge and step free access via lifts. These improvements will enable people with reduced mobility to travel confidently between Rotherham and Sheffield.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “The opening of Magna station is a proud moment for South Yorkshire, showing the progress we’re making as we build the South Yorkshire People’s Network.
“I can’t wait to welcome passengers at Magna when the Tram Train services start next month. This is exactly what taking back control of our public transport looks like; us building the future.”
Managing director at Supertram, Sean English, said: “Magna is an important addition to the Tram Train network, and we are excited to connect passengers to this fantastic venue and its events.
“Our colleagues, including trained drivers, are ready to serve this stop, and we thank everyone involved in the project.
“The new Park and Ride facility also offers great opportunities for people travelling between Rotherham and Sheffield.”
Coin Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: “It’s great that the new Tram Train stop is now in sight.
“Rotherham residents and people across the region will benefit from better, greener transport, improving access to jobs in the Templeborough area and beyond.
“And of course it fits into the bigger plan for the Don Valley Corridor between Rotherham and Sheffield; more jobs, more investment, and a transport system that supports it all.
“The proposed Templeborough Business Zone, which will be within a short walk of this stop, will be an early beneficiary.
“Magna is also two short stops from Rotherham’s proposed Gateway station, which will connect businesses and residents in the Templeborough area to mainline rail services in the next few years. It’s a welcome boost, and we’re glad to have worked with partners to get it over the line.”
Coin Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield deserves a first-class transport network and that is what we, along with South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, are working to provide.
“The addition of this brand-new station at Magna is the first stop on a fantastic future for our beloved SuperTram.
“Expanding it, and the rest of the transport infrastructure as part of South Yorkshire’s People’s Network, will not only improve how people get around Sheffield and further afield but it will also help drive economic growth and create the jobs people want and need.”
Roisin Lowery, Network Rail sponsor, said: “We’re proud to have played a key role in delivering the new Magna station, which will make journeys easier, more accessible and more reliable for passengers.
“By upgrading the infrastructure and improving stepfree access, we’re supporting a cleaner, more convenient public transport option for local communities.
“We look forward to seeing the difference Magna station will make for everyone who uses the network.”
Peter Laws, operations director at AmcoGiffen, said: “As a company with deep South Yorkshire roots, AmcoGiffen is proud to mark the official opening of Magna Tram Train Station, a project that demonstrates our commitment to safety, innovation, and excellence in delivery.
“Throughout the design and build phases, our team prioritised safety alongside client requirements and customer needs, harnessing innovative construction methods and technologies, ensuring an efficient outcome.”
The station opening comes two years after Supertram was brought back into public control and will become part of the newly launched South Yorkshire People’s Network.