The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) has appointed local firm VolkerRail to carry out the second phase of the Supertram rail replacement in Sheffield, in a deal worth approximately £12m.
Based in Doncaster, VolkerRail was responsible for the first phase of the Supertram rail replacement scheme, between 2013 and 2015, which was successfully delivered on time.
A Supertram in Hillsborough
In a separate deal, British Steel has been given a £1m contract to supply 11.5km of rail during the second phase. It also provided the rail for the first phase.
The rail replacement aims to extend the network’s life by replacing sections embedded in the street that have suffered wear and tear.
The original tender document put the estimated contract value of replacing 10km of track at circa £12.5m and stated that wear on these sections ‘has reached a critical condition’.
Replacement works are due to start this year and will take place across the network in stages over the next three years, mainly between May and September each year, until 2020.
Stephen Edwards, executive director of SYPTE, said: ‘Supertram is an important part of Sheffield’s public transport network, with 12 million journeys made each year. It is a key asset, providing a sustainable, environmentally-friendly alternative to the car and helping to support economic growth alongside other transport programmes in the city.’
A spokesperson for Stagecoach Supertram which operates the service ,said: ‘We understand that some of our customers will be inconvenienced because of this crucial work and we ask for their understanding during this time.’
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