Parkgate railway station (Rotherham) explained

Symbol Location:sheffield
Style:South Yorkshire Supertram
Rotherham Parkgate
Native Name:(Parkgate)
Structure:At-grade
Parking:95 spaces
Accessible:Yes
Status:Operational and unstaffed
Opened:25 October 2018
Country:England
Coordinates:53.4429°N -1.3433°W
Map Type:United Kingdom South Yorkshire
Grid Name:Grid reference
Borough:Parkgate, Borough of Rotherham
Transit Authority:South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
Platforms:1
Original:Sheffield Supertram

Rotherham Parkgate[1] (referred to as Parkgate on station signage) is a tram-train stop on the South Yorkshire Supertram network. It opened on 25 October 2018,[2] following the opening of the extension from Meadowhall to Rotherham, and serves the suburb of Parkgate in South Yorkshire.

It is situated next to the Parkgate shopping park, which is located to the north-east of the town centre, near the border with the village of Rawmarsh, South Yorkshire.

History

Rotherham Parkgate is part of the Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train pilot scheme, which is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. The scheme involved extending the Sheffield Supertram network to Rotherham Central from Meadowhall (Tinsley), mostly via low-use freight lines, before continuing to the terminus at Parkgate. The scheme ended up going over budget, with a final cost of £75 million.[3]

It was planned that Rotherham Parkgate would be the hub for longer distance inter-regional services, while Rotherham Central would be the hub for local services.[4] Plans suggested that the construction of the station would cost around £14 million (£53 million including the railway service to Leeds), delivering economic benefits worth over £100 million.[5]

A study later concluded that the expansion of Rotherham Central would not go ahead, as it would cost £161 million to expand the station, but only deliver benefits worth £76 million.

Layout

Rotherham Parkgate stop has only one platform facing the train lines, and a short pathway and a pedestrian crossing connects it to the main shopping park.

There are 95 free parking spaces at the station, for use by tram-train passengers.

Services

As of 2024, the station is served by two tram-trains per hour.

Rolling stock used: Class 399 Tram-Train

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tram - Tram Train . 15 September 2024 . www.travelsouthyorkshire.com.
  2. News: Sharpe. Lorna. 25 October 2018. Sheffield–Rotherham tram-train begins passenger service. E&T. Institution of Engineering and Technology. 18 April 2020.
  3. News: 14 December 2019. Sheffield-Rotherham tram-trains suspended 'on maker's advice'. BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 April 2020.
  4. Web site: News: New station for Rotherham?. 8 April 2016.
  5. Web site: Rotherham could get new rail station. The Yorkshire Post. 8 April 2016.