TRACK AND SIGNALLING
development in the steel technology for these types of rails as opposed to ballasted track, a similar timeframe was predicted for the new track. SYPTE expects to re-rail the grooved track again in 2033 (and is re-railing the 30-year-old plain track in 2024).
Young added: “To be fair, tram systems in the UK of this nature were very new [when Sheffield’s tram network was built]. Apart from Manchester having one open, there wasn’t really much experience with the sorts of trams we now run.”
And the system has seen 25 trams run over 4.5 million miles since it opened – equivalent to 58 roundtrips to the moon, Young pointed out.
Weathered working
The first phase “went very well” Young said, with lessons learnt around weather-dependent work. Some of the treatment requires a dry environment,
certain level. This influences when the work can be carried out and “puts you at risk of adverse weather”, which explains why the contracts are scheduled over the drier months.
If the track was left to continue degrading, the situation could have become “safety critical”, Young explained. This work aims to phase the
with temperatures above a
Funding has also been provided from the Tram Train project, which is a secondary reason for re-railing. As the bid document puts it: “To allow the Tram Train vehicles to operate on both the light and heavy rail networks, modifications to the track on one or the other of the networks are required to suit the Tram Train wheel profiles. In light of the residual life of the light rail track, the Tram Train project has decided to modify the tram system…it also allows future extensions on the heavy rail network without incurring rail modification costs. The replacement of worn rail with a profile
track replacement on the areas with highest wear first, and to “avoid being in a position where you have to stop running services on safety grounds”.
He said: “We’ve also got to make sure that the works we do lead to sensible phasing. It’s a combination of pragmatism and prioritising of parts of the network we need to do before others.”
The works come in addition to ongoing maintenance to keep the tram system operating safely and comfortably, including rail grinding: “We’ve never let it get to a position where it’s heavily ribbed and very uncomfortable.”
Tram passengers
suitable for Tram Train means both problems can be solved at once, reducing overall costs.”
The biggest challenge in this project is to avoid and mitigate disruption to customers, Young said.
“People understand it has to be done; the challenge is keeping people wanting to use the tram even if in the short term you have to divert them onto bus replacement services. When you finish the works you want them to be back as tram passengers.
“The biggest challenge is always minimising the impact on the customers and that’s required a huge amount of work from the Supertram team and my internal team to hide most of the difficult things from the customers so that we’re now seeing them return this year and we’ll hopefully do even better next year and the year after.”
The track replacement will take place in blocks over the spring and summer next year, with a third phase scheduled for the year after that.
www.sypte.co.uk FOR MORE INFORMATION
David Young
rail technology magazine Dec/Jan 14 | 61
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112