Pet dogs permanently allowed to travel on trams

Three quarters of those surveyed said they supported the move

Dogs will be permanently allowed on tram services in Sheffield following a successful trial, it has been announced.

More than 10,600 people responded to a public consultation, with 75% in favour of changing the rules which previously only allowed assistance dogs or dogs in carry cages.

Under the new policy, one well-behaved dog per passenger will be allowed to travel on Supertram's network, South Yorkshire's mayor Oliver Coppard said.

He added: "Fixing public transport in South Yorkshire means making it work for all of us, and that includes our four-legged friends."

The move follows similar successful trials on light rail networks in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, and Blackpool.

Sean English, managing director at Supertram, said: "Throughout the trial, we worked hard to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both our customers and colleagues, and we'll continue to monitor and manage the service to maintain a positive experience for everyone.

"It's a great example of how listening to our passengers helps us shape a better, more inclusive transport network."

According to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, more than 6,000 dogs have travelled on the Supertram network since the trial began in March.

"More than 10,000 people have told us allowing dogs on trams makes our network more inclusive and accessible," Coppard said.

"We're building a public transport system that reflects the needs of the people who use it every day."

Supertram came back under public control in 2024 and the mayoral authority aims to invest more than £110m by 2027.

This includes upgrades to the trams, track, control systems and power supplies alongside the construction of a new tram-train station at Magna Science Adventure Centre and potentially buying a new fleet by 2032.

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