Supertram will not send Sheffield drivers to the Euros

Supertram bosses have refused to send some Sheffield drivers to compete in the continental competition.

The European Tram Drivers Championship, also known as Tram-EM, is due to take place in the Austrian capital Vienna in 2025 and is open to European public transport agencies.

A group of enthusiasts have launched a petition arguing that Supertram should send a delegation to the competition to demonstrate the city’s commitment to clean transport.

But South Yorkshire Combined Mayor’s Office, which owns the network, told the BBC it would not introduce any of its drivers.

The online petition, started by Jeremy Luke Goldsworthy, had been signed by more than 50 people as of Friday evening and will run until December 1, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Goldsworthy said the competition, which previously included teams from Birmingham and Edinburgh, would give the “oft-overlooked” Sheffield the opportunity to represent the UK “on the European stage”.

“Participation in the European Tram Drivers Championship perfectly complements existing commitments such as the Connecting Sheffield initiative and will enhance the attractiveness of jobs in the public transport industry,” Mr Goldsworthy said.

“Supertram already connects Sheffield to Rotherham, but with Tram-EM it has the potential to become a bridge connecting Sheffield to the rest of the world, while celebrating Sheffield’s commitment to clean transport.”

A Supertram spokesman said: “In South Yorkshire we all know that Supertram is the best tram system in the world and we are delighted that people in South Yorkshire want to see us prove our worth at the European Tram Drivers Championships.

“While it’s not something we’ll be able to do this year, we certainly wouldn’t rule it out in the future.”

Supertram, which began operating in 1994, was taken into public ownership in March this year by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard.