Decision details

To approve the appointment of a supplier (Volker Rail) to undertake rail replacement works on the Sheffield Supertram Network in between March and September 2025

Approve Call Off Three from the TIF for Volker Rail to undertake rail replacement works on the Supertram Network at a value of £4.75M

• Not undertake the works – maintenance of the rail is essential to the safe operation of the tram network. The sections of embedded track selected (Middlewood Road, Langsett Road, Ridgeway Road, Gleadless Town End tram stop and Birley Lane) are heavily worn and replacement is required as soon as practicable. Other sections of ballasted track also require replacement. Failure to address the issues could lead to the closure of these sections of track resulting in parts of the tram network being severed.

• Undertake remedial repair works. SYFTL has already undertaken significant remediation work in an attempt to extend the life of these sections of track. They have reported no further remedial work is practical.

• Undertake planned repair works at all sites. Volker Rail has provided fee proposal based on the TIF of £4.51M to undertake the planned rail replacement works from Mar to Sep 2025. Note this excludes any proposed works in October 2025. The budget allowance in the AR programme for the planned works in 2025 is £5.2M. comprising works. This leaves headroom for undertaking further works under a separate commission in October. To allow for potential contract variations arising during the works, the approval value is recommended at £4.75M, ie a contingency of approximately 5%.