Public transport users in South Yorkshire could soon benefit from seamless travel between tram stops and conventional rail stations after the UK’s first ‘tram train’ was unveiled in Sheffield last week.

Government is working with partners to pilot use of these vehicles, which are designed to allow single journeys using both the city’s Supertram network and railway between Sheffield and Rotherham.

Also collaborating on the project are the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), Network Rail, Stagecoach Supertram and Northern Rail.

Vehicles will undergo testing before they are introduced on tramlines in summer 2016 to provide extra services at busy times. Following this passenger services spanning the tram and rail networks could begin in early 2017.

“Tram Train is a first for the UK,” said SYPTE chief executive Stephen Edwards. “The arrival of the first vehicle is an important milestone for the pilot scheme, to test whether the technology could be used elsewhere.”

He added: “Tram Train complements South Yorkshire’s transport objectives of improved connectivity and regional growth, and has the ability to transform transport networks both locally and nationally.”

The pilot will run for two years while customer satisfaction, passenger numbers, reliability and costs are tested and, if successful, the vehicles will continue to run as a local service.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones, who attended the unveiling of the first tram train, said: “Good strategic transport links and infrastructure are central to rebalancing the economy, bringing the country closer together and the success of the Northern Powerhouse.”