ISDM provide IT network upgrades to support the Sheffield Supertram concession.
Client Overview
For the past thirty years, Supertram has been a crucial part of the South Yorkshire region’s transport network, operating over 2,650 services a week across four routes. This concession had been run by Stagecoach since 1997. However, to allow greater control of the region’s transport, a plan was put in place to make South Yorkshire’s Supertram a publicly owned, publicly operated venture.
ISDM supported the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority in transitioning the IT services from Stagecoach for this critical service.
The Challenge
Stagecoach had run services for the Supertram for 27 years and owned all hardware and systems to run the back-office service. Migrating away from Stagecoach with that amount of history required creating a working party of experts to examine all aspects of the delivery model: HR, Contracts, Staffing, and, of course, IT. As a known service provider to SYMCA, ISDM was invited to consult on the network elements of this strategy.
The key challenge was moving away from an old, unsupportable network infrastructure while providing benefits and enhancements to the service offered to the staff at Supertram.
The Solution
ISDM provided a site survey of the main Supertram depot to allow a review of the present estate and conducted consultancy interviews to understand the desired future state and business requirements that the network could support moving forward.
From that review, a technical proposal was provided for the must-have requirements and the optional nice-to-have requirements. The delivered solution comprised of the following key elements:
- New backbone switched network.
- A wireless site survey will be conducted to confirm wireless requirements for offices, depots, and external areas.
- Provision and installation of wireless solution, including all physical and cabling works.
- Provision of secure permitter firewall solution
- VPN remote access solution
- Provision of new remote office solution, switching, wireless & CCTV
- Provision of Microsoft Teams Room device for new offices and depot boardrooms.
The above solutions were provided using Meraki cloud-managed hardware, Cisco Secure Client, and Neat Boards for video conferencing.
The benefits of the solution are:
- All hardware is now covered by the manufacturers’ warranty and ISDM support contract
- Users are now able to work securely from anywhere
- Improved communication and efficiency between the depot and office sites
- Wider wireless coverage across the depot to provide efficiency in managing maintenance schedules
Why ISDM
“ISDM served as the network infrastructure specialist for the entire Supertram transition project, managing everything from design and planning to implementation. Their expertise ensured that each stage was carefully planned and executed, resulting in a robust and efficient network system for Supertram.
ISDM focused on providing modern solutions that support modular growth, allowing the system to expand and adapt to future needs. This flexible and scalable design ensures the network can handle new demands and technological advancements, making it resilient and capable of supporting long-term growth.
Throughout the planning phase, ISDM worked closely with the SYMCA transition team to understand their requirements and goals. This collaboration led to a tailored strategy that aligned with SYMCA’s vision for improving public transport for everyone in South Yorkshire.
During implementation, ISDM deployed advanced technologies and ensured seamless integration with existing systems, creating a streamlined and reliable network infrastructure. This careful process minimised disruptions and maximised performance.
Overall, ISDM’s role was crucial to the project’s success, providing a strong foundation for SYMCA’s digital future and supporting the region’s economic growth.”
Nick Brailsford – Assistant Directorm – Digital & Technology Services
