The collision, which took place shortly before 3.20pm BST, came just hours after the new tram system was launched by ministers on Thursday morning. A new Super Tram Train,, which can run on both tram and train lines, came off the tracks in the Attercliffe area after being hit by a flatbed lorry pushing it around 30ft sideways at a point where Staniforth Road crosses the tram tracks near to the Woodbourn Road tram stop. Reports say a lorry was going over a track at a set of traffic lights when the tram "smashed into the side of it" at around 20mph A Stagecoach Supertram spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a collision took place this afternoon between a lorry and one of our vehicles shortly before 3.20pm on Staniforth Road. No-one has been seriously injured, however a small number of people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

"We are assisting police with their inquiries into the circumstances. Tram services in the area are currently suspended and the latest updates for customers are available via our website and Twitter feed." It is understood the tram signal was on green at the time of the collision. The traffic lights around the junction were not working after the collision, with signs warning motorists of the situation. But it is not clear whether the lights were working before the crash. South Yorkshire Police and the fire brigade attended the site of the Coliision on Staniforth Road, with travellers and commuters being advised to use alternative routes.

A new Super Tram Train has collided with a lorry in Sheffled

A tweet from South Yorkshire Police reads: "We are currently dealing with a collision between a tram and a lorry on Staniforth Road Sheffield. "Road closures are in place. At this time no-one is thought to be seriously injured. Please avoid the area and plan alternative routes." The first SuperTram Train completed its maiden journey between Rotherham and Sheffied earlier on Thursdsy, when it was launched earlier in the morning by Rail Minister Jo Johnson. The minister said: “The first tram-train journey is a milestone moment that will give commuters cleaner, more frequent and more reliable journeys across Sheffield and Rotherham.

An image showing the collision between the new tram train and a lorry in Sheffield

"This pioneering project brings together innovation, state-of-the-art technology and our existing infrastructure to give passengers better journeys. It lays the groundwork for ambitious transport schemes right across the country that should give commuters more choice." Following the collision, Sheffield traffic authority Streets Ahead also tweeted: "We have been advised a lorry has hit a tram at Staniforth Road/Woodbourn Road and the tram has derailed. "@SCSupertram aware, and a team is en route to place out road closure signs. Please take care in this area." The tram-train extension to Rotherham opened on 25 October 2018, with a fleet of seven Vossloh Citylink Class 399 tram-trains.

Twitter users have described their disappointment at the crash of the pilot "tram-trains"

According to the Sheffield Star, one passenger said that people on board are feeling shaken up, with the collision being classed as a "major incident". The passenger said: "I was sat in the front seat of the tram and we were approaching the junction and all I saw was a lorry in front and then the bed of it hit the tram. "The next minute we were up in the air and my back went. The windows were all smashed and we landed." Another eyewitness reported seeing passengers in "complete shock" and "floods of tears".

The new trains can run on both tram and regular train lines. No serious injuries have been reported

One twitter user said of the crash: "Amazing. Stagecoach launched a tram-train in Sheffield and it's managed to crash and derail HOURS after it launched." Shortly after the Tram system's first completed journey, Stagecoach Supertramk said: "Another milestone as the UK’s first Tram Train completed its Sheffield-Rotherham-Sheffield journey a short time ago." For the very first time, the new tram line sees three trains an hour run between Sheffield and Rotherham. The high-tech new carriages are said to be able to run using both tram and rail tracks.

A tweet from Stagecoach announcing the collision on Thursday afternoon

The cost of the new pilot system has rocketed from £15million to £75million. The project is under a two-year trial period, before it is rolled out to other parts of England. It is thre latest controversy to hit the new tram trains. A report released in 2017 stating the system was hindered by "unacceptable increases and delays" as thr expense of the taxpayer.</s>Tram services have been suspended in Attercliffe after a collision between a new Sheffield tram-train and a lorry

The crash happened on the first day of the new tram-train service.

A spokesperson for Stagecoach Supertram, the operator, said: "We can confirm that a collision took place this afternoon between a lorry and one of our vehicles shortly before 3.20pm on Staniforth Road.

"No-one has been seriously injured however a small number of people were treated at the scene for minor injuries."

They added they are assisting police with their inquiries.</s>Sheffield’s long awaited tram train finally began running only to be derailed on its first day of service after a crash with a lorry on Staniforth Road. The service was due to launch two years ago but has faced delays and cost overruns from an initial estimate of £15 million to a final bill of £75 million. Services were suspended after the incident. Earlier Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis about the launch of the new service.</s>A new tram-train was derailed on its first day of service after a crash with a lorry in Sheffield.

The crash on Staniforth Road happened shortly before 15:30 BST

There were no reports of anyone trapped, but some passengers on the tram-train suffered minor injuries, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said.</s>The £75 million tram-train project could boost both Sheffield and Rotherham's economy as well as creating a leisure corridor in the Lower Don Valley.

That’s the view of Rotherham Borough Council leader Chris Read as the scheme finally got underway on Thursday.

READ MORE: Tram driver Neil’s special day in the cab of first-ever Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train

Three services an hour will run between Sheffield Cathedral and Parkgate, via Rotherham central, with a journey time of 27 minutes.

Coun Read said: “It’s a big day for Rotherham. It's a big infrastructure project, which helps to connect Sheffield to Rotherham, and it is a national first.

“We’re very excited to see it up and running. For people like me that have relied on rail services between Sheffield and Rotherham, it's a real upgrade.”

The route runs from the Cathedral to Parkgate, via Sheffield Arena, Ikea, Meadowhall South, where he joins the rail network, and onto Parkgate Shopping.

READ MORE: Almost three years late and at five times the original cost – Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train finally welcomes passengers

Coun Read said: “There is a whole series of developments coming down from Meadowhall, past the New York Stadium, where we now have Rotherham United playing Championship football, into Rotherham town centre, where we hope to start work on Forge Island in the middle of next year.

“It will almost become a bit of a leisure corridor through Sheffield city centre, Centertainment, Meadowhall, Parkgate and Rotherham town centre which people will be able to enjoy and work in those businesses.”

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Fares on tram-train services range from £1.80 to £2.50 with a Dayrider ticket available for £4.</s>Welcome to The Star’s live blog providing the latest news, travel and weather updates as well as ongoing reaction to the biggest stories in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire

Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train – What will the weather be like in Sheffield today – Carlos Carvalhal exclusive interview on time at Sheffield Wednesday – Meadowhall and city centre Debenhams stores at risk of closure – Boeing’s Sheffield factory set to open</s>Welcome to The Star’s live blog providing the latest news, travel and weather updates as well as ongoing reaction to the biggest stories in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire

Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train – What will the weather be like in Sheffield today –</s>The UK’s first ‘tram train’ services, running between Sheffield and Rotherham, are to be launched today.

The long-awaited Sheffield to Rotherham service will welcome passengers from today – with the scheme almost three years late and five times the original budget.

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 The service will see tram trains run from Sheffield to Parkgate Shopping via Rotherham Central railway station.

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The first service will leave the Cathedral tram stop in Sheffield city centre at 9.39am.

Three services an hour will run, with tram trains travelling on the Supertram network from Sheffield Cathedral to Meadowhall South/ Tinsley, before joining a new section of track linking the tram line to the rail line.

It will then continue on to the national rail network to Rotherham Parkgate, with journeys set to take 27 minutes.

The Government funded programme is a partnership between South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Network Rail, Stagecoach Supertram and Northern Rail.

It will run for two years while customer satisfaction, passenger numbers, reliability and costs are tested.</s>Engineers are repairing Sheffield Supertram tracks following a crash between a lorry and a tram-train.

Stagecoach, which operates the system, said it hoped to resume all routes later today following the works.

READ MORE: Sheffield tram-train crash – Everything we know so far

A lorry was in collision with a tram-train at the junction of Staniforth Road and Woodbourn Road at around 3.30pm on Wednesday – the day the service launched.

In a statement, Stagecoach said: “Following the removal of the Supertram vehicle yesterday, a full assessment of the track has been carried out and engineers are working to repair a small piece of track that is damaged. Following this work it is hoped that services on all routes will resume later today.

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“In the meantime Yellow services between are Cricket Inn Rd and Meadowhall and all Tram Train services remain suspended.

“Tickets are being accepted on Stagecoach/First buses and Northern Trains from Rotherham/Meadowhall.

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“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”</s>It was a special day for passengers, businesses leaders and politicians as the Sheffield to Rotherham tram-tram finally launched – almost three years later than planned.

But it was all the more memorable for Neil Dewire who was handed the keys to drive the first-ever passenger service between Cathedral and Parkgate Shopping.

Mr Dewire, of Intake, has been a driver for two-and-a-half years and after months of training took to the cab as the project got underway on Thursday.

He said: “It's a very special day for me and it’s been a long time coming. I was just asked if I would do it by the management and of course I said yes.

READ MORE: Almost three years late and at five times the original cost – Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train finally welcomes passengers

“I was a truck driver for 27 years and Stagecoach were advertising for tram drivers so I just thought why not?”

The pilot project has cost around £75 million – £60 million more than original estimates – and was orginally due to launch in 2015.

It sees trams run on the normal Supertram tracks between Cathedral and Meadowhall South, before switching onto the rail network out to Parkgate, via Rotherham Central.

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Three services an hour run on the route, with a journey time of 27 minutes. Tram-trains run from 5.27am until around 11pm Monday to Saturday and 8.27am until around 7pm on Sunday.

Mr Dewire added: “When we go onto the rail network we just switch this button onto rail and connect to the Network Rail signalling system.

“It’s different in terms of when you drive on the railway tracks you just drive to the Network Rail signals but on the tram network you drive by sight because there are cars and pedestrians.”

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Single tram-train fares range from £1.80 between Pakrgate and the Arena/Olympic Legacy Park and £2.50 for further journeys. A tram dayrider costs £4.
On its first day of service the Sheffield Supertram's new tram-train is struck by a truck and derailed.