After a detailed options assessment, Forge Way has been selected as the best location for the station at Rotherham Gateway. This is due to a number of reasons.

Firstly, it is the only location in Rotherham where the tram-train line and main line run close enough to enable the creation of a fully integrated transport hub, serving both networks in one place.

It also sits at the heart of Rotherham’s industrial area, just north of the town centre, meaning the station will strengthen connections with ongoing development projects, acting as a catalyst for regeneration, unlocking benefits locally, regionally and nationally.

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Its close proximity to key housing and employment areas – Eastwood, the proposed Bassingthorpe Farm development, Parkgate Retail Park, the wider Don Valley Corridor and South Yorkshire Investment Zone – makes it the ideal location to drive long-term growth for Rotherham. There is also plenty of land in these areas that can be brought back into use, resulting in further opportunities for development and urban regeneration.

Finally, this site will significantly improve local connectivity and access to the town centre through the tram-train stop, while also strengthening regional and national connectivity via the main line station.

Rotherham Council, working with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the wider rail industry, has carried out a detailed options assessment, which included Masbrough. Forge Way offers much stronger benefits as it enables direct interchange with the tram-train and delivers better value for money.

The new station at Rotherham Gateway is designed to complement, not replace, Rotherham Central. Rotherham Central will continue to serve existing branch line services, while the new station will strengthen these existing transport links with a wider range of faster, more direct services.

Rotherham Central has now reached the limits of what it can deliver. Therefore, to support Rotherham’s ongoing growth and regeneration ambitions, a new station is needed.

A detailed options assessment, undertaken by Rotherham Council, SYMCA and the wider rail industry, also found that developing a new station at Rotherham Gateway would provide better value for money and greater long-term benefits than further, more expensive enhancements to the railway line serving Rotherham Central.

Rotherham Gateway will become a major transport hub with faster rail links to places including Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds (in around 30 minutes), Doncaster, London (in around 2 hours), Newcastle and Edinburgh, alongside quick and convenient local connections via the new tram-train stop.

The development will open up new opportunities for Rotherham and its residents. It will anchor the Don Valley Growth Corridor as a driver of the UK’s next industrial economy, improving connections to high-quality jobs across the town, supporting local businesses and attracting investment. It will also make it easier to access education at colleges, universities and the Innovation Campus and provide better links to leisure facilities and activities, such as the Magna Science Adventure Centre and Olympic Legacy Park.

Rotherham Gateway presents an opportunity to create a network of innovation across the North connected by sustainable transport, as well as positioning the wider South Yorkshire region as a competitive UK hub for advanced manufacturing and green tech.

The station at Rotherham Gateway is designed to complement and enhance existing transport links.

Active travel routes are central to the new station plans, with safe and convenient options for walking, wheeling and cycling included in the proposal. These will provide easier access to the town centre and other key destinations.

The station design also includes provision for bus stops, with a review underway to maximise the benefits of the Gateway through fast, safe, reliable and frequent bus services linking surrounding communities.

Rotherham Central will continue to serve existing branch line services, while the new station will strengthen these existing transport links with a wider range of faster, more direct services. For example, the journey to Leeds will be half an hour faster (around 30 mins journey time).

The new tram-train line will also enhance local connectivity and town centre access, working alongside existing transport links.

Yes, parking will be an important consideration as the plans are developed. We will look carefully at current and future demand to ensure the station is accessible and meets local parking needs.

Rotherham Gateway will be just a 10-minute walk from the heart of the town centre, reachable via a new active travel route along Effingham Street which will create a safe, accessible walking and cycling link. The tram-train will also provide a quick link between the Gateway and Rotherham Central.

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By making it easier for people to access the town centre, the station will unlock new leisure and business opportunities, strengthening the local economy.  

It will be a catalyst for growth, driving investment, attracting businesses and creating up to 1,000 high-value jobs and opportunities. Overall, the Gateway is forecast to generate 265,000 new economic opportunities for people and businesses across Rotherham.

Rotherham Gateway will create opportunities not just for local people and commuters, but also for businesses. The project is expected to unlock 33,000 m² of new advanced manufacturing and business space, supporting growth across a range of sectors.

Improved connectivity will make it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to attract skilled staff and access training opportunities.

Rotherham Gateway is a long-term investment in Rotherham's future. It is central to regeneration plans transforming the town into a modern, competitive northern economy. More specifically, the development is expected to deliver:

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• Up to £1.2 billion of private investment

• Up to 1,000 new jobs for local residents and 8,000 across the wider South Yorkshire Investment Zone

• A skills pipeline for advanced, green, and digital technology

• Over £100 million uplift to the local economy from new employment prospects over a 60-year appraisal

• Up to 3,000 new homes, as part of a wider ambition for 10,000 homes across the Don Valley Corridor

• 33,000m² advanced and business space plus 35,000m² new advanced manufacturing and 47,000m² expansion

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This is why Rotherham Gateway matters. Rotherham is one of the fastest growing sub-regional economies in the North – we want to capitalise on this while also ensuring that growth benefits all, by giving equal access to opportunity, skills, and employment.

This investment will be a catalyst for socio-economic growth, attracting investment across Rotherham while boosting the town centre and local enterprises. The project plans to propel Rotherham to its next stage of growth, securing the future as a powerhouse of the modern Northern economy.

We want to work as one region. As a result, we are working hard to ensure we work collaboratively with SYMCA, neighbouring local authorities, the private sector and universities. We want this to be a joined-up approach to growth.

Rotherham Gateway supports low-carbon transport, active travel and green housing – building a greener economy alongside growth.

As part of the Outline Business Case, we have carried out detailed studies and modelling, including an Economic Appraisal Report, to show how the project can deliver real benefits for both the local and regional economy. Alongside the transport benefits, this work has identified significant potential for the station at Rotherham Gateway to support regeneration and stimulate local and regional development.

Flood resilience has been built into the design of the new station. Rotherham Council and Network Rail are progressing additional works to ensure the branch and tram-train line are protected, and all key station infrastructure, such as lift shafts, will be positioned above the flood level.

The development of the first phase of Rotherham Gateway, the Station Quarter, is being funded locally through SYMCA, which has committed £11.35 million from the devolved City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) to support this stage of the project. The Department for Transport (DfT) formally approved the release of this funding in January 2026. RMBC is now progressing work on the Full Business Case, which will form the basis for a final investment decision ahead of construction.

RMBC is now progressing work on the Full Business Case for the Station Quarter, which will form the basis for a final investment decision ahead of construction. Included in the Full Business Case is a detailed design, which includes finalising overarching plans for the main line station, tram-train stop and surrounding transport hub.

The Full Business Case is expected to be completed in late 2027, after which a final decision will be made on funding and progressing the project. If successful, the ambition is to work towards an opening date of around 2030 for the new rail station and tram-train stop.

As the project develops, we will keep local communities informed through updates as and when we can. This may take the form of local events, consultations, and / or updates on our www.rotherhamgateway.co.uk website.