Sheffield's Supertram 'could be mothballed' in 'worst case scenario' if Government fails to step in

Sheffield City Region bosses were given £1.3 million in May to support the Supertram network following a massive reduction in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Government intervention is set to end on Monday, August 3 and Mayor Jarvis has described shutting down the service as ‘terrible situation’ but it would come at a ‘last resort’.

The mayor said he has had to start planning for a range of contingencies including scaling back services or even mothballing the network for a period of time.

It’s understood the mayor has had meetings with Department for Transport Ministers joined by colleagues in Manchester, Nottingham and Tyne & Wear who also find themselves in a similar situation.

Government announced £30m to keep trams and metro trains running for key workers to carry on getting to work back in April with a number of combined authorities and councils with a light-rail network receiving the cash.

“I’m very concerned about that. In a matter of days, I don’t yet have the funding in place to guarantee that Supertram can keep running,” Mayor Jarvis said.

“It’s a massive priority for me to work with Government to secure that funding. I've got ministerial meetings with the DfT (Department of Transport) and the other metro mayors across the country who have tram networks.

“We need to ensure Government provides that extra funding for Supertram - it’s critical that it keeps going because it is deeply concerning that less than a week out, we don’t have that money.

“I’m now having to plan for a range of different contingencies - I hope we can get the money and I’m hoping for the best but we have to look at other options.

“I hope we don’t get to a scenario that Supertram services have to be further reduced or is the network has to be mothballed but I’m working around the clock to avoid that but that needs Government to step in.

“That is the worst case scenario and that is a terrible situation but I’m working around the clock to make sure this doesn’t happen - that is the last thing I want to see.”

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