After detailed planning by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), the Supertram proposal was approved by an act of Parliament[which?]

Early operations, hindered by a complex ticketing system and the initially small coverage area, had disappointing ridership figures.

[2] In an effort to turn around the performance, operations were privatised to Stagecoach in 1997, at price of £1.15 million, who took over from South Yorkshire Supertram Limited.

[3] The Supertram network now consists of 50 stations across four colour-coded lines, the Blue, Purple, Yellow and Tram-Train (Black) routes, which connect with local and national bus and rail services and six park and ride sites.

[8] The network was operated by South Yorkshire Supertram Limited,[9] a wholly owned subsidiary company of SYPTE established to run the venture.

In the early years, the scheme was viewed by some as a failure; passengers continued using cheaper and more frequent buses, and retailers complained about the disruption caused by the lengthy construction works.

[2] It became clear that projections for passenger numbers had been overly optimistic, and concern arose that the system represented poor value for money.

By 1996, the councils backing the Supertram brought in consultants to draw up options to address major operational and managerial problems.

[2] In December 1997, South Yorkshire Supertram Limited was privatised, and sold to Stagecoach for £1.15 million, substantially below the anticipated £80 million that the councils had hoped to raise to help pay off the accumulated debts,[11] leaving several local councils with the long-term debt for the Supertram's establishment.

[12] Under the terms of the deal struck by the Labour government, a reduction in operating costs was achieved, but it was calculated that the people of South Yorkshire were each paying 5p per week for the Supertram, which continued over many years.

[8][10] There were initially plans for Supertram to extend services to a greater area of South Yorkshire, such as lines to Barnsley and Doncaster, but progress has been restricted.

[2][15] The tram-train extension to Rotherham opened on 25 October 2018,[16] using seven new Vossloh-built Class 399 Citylink articulated electric multiple units.

[21] The existing Siemens-Duewag Supertram fleet were not upgraded for tram-train operation, so were not registered under TOPS and cannot be used on the line as they lack the relevant Network Rail safety systems and crashworthiness.

[32] On 18 October 2022 the South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard announced that the service would return to public operation once Stagecoach's contract expired in March 2024, alongside a £100 million grant by the central government to modernise parts of the system.

The three main City Centre stops are located on one side of a former dual carriageway, now a single lane and reserved for buses and taxis only.

The design incorporates recommendations made by the Cranfield Institute of Technology who studied ergonomics for both able-bodied and disabled users.

[46] Supertram is powered through 12 electric substations and fed through 107 mm2 (0.166 sq in) cross-section overhead line equipment (OHLE) wire.

There is a single depot, located at Nunnery Square, which occupies former carriage sidings alongside the Sheffield to Lincoln railway line.

This change brought two key positives: an improved staff presence on board each tram, and meant that passenger's tickets could be systematically checked.

Unlike some other tramway and light rail operators in England, Supertram accepts concessionary travel passes issued by any English local authority.

[49] The system is owned by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which consists of representatives from the metropolitan boroughs of Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley.

[55][56] In August 2008, plans were announced for the trial of diesel-electro hybrid tram trains on a route via Network Rail tracks to Huddersfield via Meadowhall, Barnsley and Penistone.

The initial plan was to use electric vehicles capable of operating on either 750 V DC or 25 kV 50 Hz AC, via Rotherham Central to a new station at Parkgate.

[59][60][61] Part of the delay was due to the transport secretary failing to approve the building of a 150m (164yd) section of track at Tinsley in a timely manner.

[62] The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was critical of Network Rail's initial estimates for the cost of modifications to the route calling them, "wholly unrealistic".

The PAC also noted that Network Rail and the Department for Transport could not provide figures on how much money had been spent on a now cancelled line electrification project.

[69] In July 2021 a public consultation was opened about plans to build a new stop on the Tram Train route outside Magna Science Adventure Centre.

[70][71] In March 2024 Network Rail and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) approved the new station at Magna, Templeborough.

Two staggered low-level tram-train platforms are to be installed, one for each line, with a connecting footbridge and an additional 29 parking spaces are to be created at the Magna site.

[74] In March 2024, when the tram was taken back into public ownership, it was revealed that talks were in progress about extending the network to Stocksbridge, Barrow Hill and Chesterfield with an emphasis on the routes serving hospitals.