New Tram Trains coming to Yorkshire

Date: 17/5/2012

New Tram Trains are to be introduced in a new £58 million scheme in South Yorkshire.

The vehicles have been described as "revolutionary" by the government and can travel along both tram and rail networks.

As well as improving the region's transport connections to boost the economy, the move will also create around 35 new jobs.

A stretch of track between Sheffield and Rotherham will be electrified as part of the upgrades, while a 400-metre line linking the tramway to the train tracks will be introduced.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "Tram Trains have already proven hugely popular on the continent. Now we will be able to test whether they can bridge the gap between tram and train networks in this country."

He added that the scheme should also encourage more people to use public transport instead of their cars.

Tram Trains were first introduced in Karlsruhe in Germany and are now used in France, Italy and the Netherlands.

Posted by Mary Treen