UK: South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has launched an early market engagement exercise to inform its plans for the future procurement of 25 trams to replace the original Sheffield Supertram fleet. SYMCA and arms-length public sector tram operator South Yorkshire Future Trams Ltd will be inviting suppliers to participate in a series of engagement activities, including face-to-face discussions and site visits to view the current fleet, network and maintenance facilities. The contract value is estimated at £116m, and the new fleet is expected to be fully operational by 2032. ‘Once-in-a-generation opportunity’‘Supertram is a vital part of South Yorkshire’s transport network, but our current fleet is nearing the end of its life’, said Tom Howard, Director of Transport Development & Capital Delivery at SYMCA, on September 24. We’re inviting the best of the industry to help us shape that future.’The current Supertram fleet also includes seven Vossloh (now Stadler) CityLink tram-trains supplied in 2015-16 for the Rotherham extension.