This work looked at track and wheelset designs of tram-train schemes. It also gives guidance on which options are best suited to different circumstances.
Project number:
COF-HTT-01
Reducing costs and risks of tram-train schemes by optimising the wheel–rail interface
'This guidance walks users through a process to determine the optimal technical solution and help them understand and manage infrastructure costs.'
The challenge
Tram-trains can run as both:
- on-street trams serving city centres
- commuter trains running on mainline infrastructure.
This lets passengers travel seamlessly between city centre tram stops and suburban railway stations. Tram-trains provide flexible, low-cost urban connectivity. They also bring environmental, economic, and accessibility benefits.
A hybrid wheel profile was defined for the Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train pilot. However, changes to light and heavy-rail track systems were needed, raising costs for Network Rail. With new tram-train schemes being considered across the UK, it was time to revisit options at the wheel-rail interface.
What we did
We found three main ways to interface wheels and rails so rail vehicles can operate as tram-trains:
- a hybrid wheel profile and raised check rails
- a type of flat-bottomed rail with a heavy-rail wheel profile and flangeway fillers
- light-rail-compatible switches on heavy-rail infrastructure and a tramway wheel profile.
Our guidance helps users understand the best-suited solution for a particular scheme. A flowchart provides a step-by-step evaluation of the options. A cost calculator gives an indication of the capital costs associated with infrastructure changes. This is based on the existing infrastructure, proposed route, and new infrastructure requirements.
The project was delivered through our strategic partnership with the University of Huddersfield.
Benefits delivered
Tram-trains are popular thanks to the wide range of benefits they can deliver. New services are planned to improve urban connectivity in Greater Manchester and Cardiff.
There are also proposals for schemes in other cities across the UK. This guidance will help decision-makers identify the most suitable wheel-rail interface solutions for a given scheme. This ensures a smoother and more efficient rollout. It will also inform the development of a standard tram-train wheel profile design. This helps to reduce capital and operational costs.