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Nottigham Express Transit

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ValleyLines142

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Used the tram earlier this week for the first time, had 207 from Beeston Centre to Royal Centre and then newer model 224 from Royal Centre back to the station. Was very impressed at how nippy they are! My personal favourite section for me would have to be the section from the station to Lace Market/Old Market Square.
 
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edwin_m

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http://www.thetram.net/essential-tr...aspx#EssentialTrackMaintenanceWorksAugust2017

A section of the track will be replaced at the junction of Mount Hooton Road and Bentinck Road, south of The Forest tram stop.

The main works take place over five days from Saturday 26 August until Wednesday 30 August.

During this period, trams from Hucknall and Phoenix Park will run to and from The Forest, with services from Clifton South and Toton Lane operating to and from Old Market Square. A shuttle bus will operate between The Forest and Royal Centre to enable customers to complete their cross-city journeys.

Not sure what this means operationally, perhaps some trams temporarily stabled somewhere south of the works?
 

Edgeley

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I sampled NET for the first time a week or two ago taking a trip from Toton to David Lane with a break in the city centre on the return. The trams are pretty nippy and smooth. I was, however, disappointed with regard to seating comfort and window views.
 

MCR247

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I'd definitely recommend doing the 'original' line to, the older trams going flat out (have a higher top speed than the Alstoms) after Wilkinson Street is fun!
 

edwin_m

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There's also the "interesting" level crossing at David Lane. The flashing lights and barriers only work if a train passes, with trams being protected only by the traffic lights.
 

DriverToBe

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I'd definitely recommend doing the 'original' line to, the older trams going flat out (have a higher top speed than the Alstoms) after Wilkinson Street is fun!

Both type of trams are restricted to line speed of 70kph.

Both will do over 70 but it's not allowed.
 

MCR247

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Fair enough, always feels like you're going faster on the older ones. Has that always been the case?
 

DriverToBe

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It used to be 80kph until the new lines opened and with the new time table they changed the maximum speed. Also I wouldn't want to do more than 70kph in the new ones, they are bad enough at 70kph
 

MCR247

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It used to be 80kph until the new lines opened and with the new time table they changed the maximum speed. Also I wouldn't want to do more than 70kph in the new ones, they are bad enough at 70kph

Thanks for the info :) Yeah I know what you mean, whilst there is some sideways movement on the Bombardiers they feel like they take it in their stride :D
 

ValleyLines142

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I sampled NET for the first time a week or two ago taking a trip from Toton to David Lane with a break in the city centre on the return. The trams are pretty nippy and smooth. I was, however, disappointed with regard to seating comfort and window views.

I find the newer examples were nicer for seating. Better in both comfort and alignment.
 

tramdan

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My personal favourite section for me would have to be the section from the station to Lace Market/Old Market Square.

Interesting you say that, because that has to be one of my personal least favourite sections! Early in a morning it is full of delivery vehicles and then late at night the drunks provide yet more challenging potential obstacles.

My favourite section of the system is the Phoenix Park Branch, from Babbington Junction at Highbury Vale to the terminus of the branch at the Park and Ride. The best bit being the reverse curves adjacent to Cinderhill which can easily be negotiated at 35km/h. Lovely. :D
 

DriverToBe

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Interesting you say that, because that has to be one of my personal least favourite sections! Early in a morning it is full of delivery :Dvehicles and then late at night the drunks provide yet more challenging potential obstacles.

:D


I agree although the sights around there at night can be pleasing on the eye
 

howittpie

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A tram had derailed at University Boulevard this afternoon after a van hit it. This from the Nottingham post

A collision between a van and a tram has closed University Boulevard and delayed tram and bus services to and from the city.

The accident in University Boulevard happened at around 2.45pm.

It has resulted in all traffic being diverted and no trams running between University Boulevard and the NG2 tram stops.

Nottingham Express Transit has released a statement stating apologising for any inconvenience.

A spokesman said: "For all passengers affected between University Boulevard and NG2 stops the orange line number 36 and navy line number 49 are currently accepting our tickets we do apologise for the inconvenience caused."

From reports on a local facebook group the van jumped the red light at some speed.
 

duffield

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From reports on a local facebook group the van jumped the red light at some speed.

Looks consistent with the pictures. They must have been going *really* fast to move the tram that far. Bet they didn't expect to see/hit a tram at all (non local, maybe not aware Nottingham even has them).
(Excuse speculation)

Anyhow, no serious injuries thankfully. Van driver was very lucky.
 

DriverToBe

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Well not only did they not see the red light they managed to not see the tram, the tram would have been almost half way across the junction at the time.
 

edwin_m

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Looks consistent with the pictures. They must have been going *really* fast to move the tram that far.
Not necessarily. On this video from Croydon the car doesn't knock the tram significantly off course despite the speed of impact. However the tram is derailed and its own momentum carries it some distance away from the track.

 

DriverToBe

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But the impact from the car pushed the tram the opposite way of curve effectively straightening the tram whereas the one in Nottingham had pushed the tram making it almost jackknife. I agree some momentum would still move the tram but not in the same way as the Croydon one
 

edwin_m

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The track is straight or nearly so where it crosses the road but the tram has travelled on into the right hand curve approaching the tramstop. I would guess the van struck the left hand front corner of the tram (as appears to be the case from the damage) and the first section derailed to the right. The rest of the tram is apparently still on the rails and its momentum would have carried it forward. The front section would continue rolling on its wheels and diverging rightward from the track. The articulation pushing from behind would have turned it further to the right, exacerbated by the drag from the wheels as they started scraping sideways along the surface rather than rolling. So not the same as at Croydon but the momentum of the tram is still the main factor in how it ended up where it did.
 
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MCR247

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The track is straight or nearly so where it crosses the road but the tram has travelled on into the right hand curve approaching the tramstop. I would guess the van struck the left hand front corner of the tram (as appears to be the case from the damage) and the first section derailed to the right. The rest of the tram is apparently still on the rails and its momentum would have carried it forward. The front section would continue rolling on its wheels and diverging rightward from the track. The articulation pushing from behind would have turned it further to the right, exacerbated by the drag from the wheels as they started scraping sideways along the surface rather than rolling. So not the same as at Croydon but the momentum of the tram is still the main factor in how it ended up where it did.

Interesting - so the tram was most of the way across the road when its rear section was hit? Pure speculation but maybe the driver thought the tram would be out of his way but was caught out by the fact it was slowing?
 

edwin_m

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The BBC story has a photo showing what I'm 99% sure is the front of the tram with impact damage to what if I'm correct is the left hand corner in the direction of travel. The other photo is the van with a big dent in the driver's side door. I conclude that the tram hit the side of the van, and as it is a Luton type possibly the widening of the body behind the cab was enough to push the tram off the rails. But the van is stopped well beyond the collision point, certainly not embedded in the side of the tram, so probably didn't lose much momentum.

I suspect the 30mph that starts/finishes just to the east will now be extended across the tram crossing. The way the road chicanes across the tracks feels to me a bit risky for a 40mph zone, and the present start of 30mph is between the tram crossing and the road junction at the University entrance, so there are quite a lot of reasons why drivers might miss it.

Here is the story (not sure if linked already): http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-42257374
 

DriverToBe

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Interesting - so the tram was most of the way across the road when its rear section was hit? Pure speculation but maybe the driver thought the tram would be out of his way but was caught out by the fact it was slowing?

It was the front of the tram.

Also there were stationary cars just beyond the junction so it is highly likely that had the van and tram not collided then the van would hit the back of the cars as there was no attempt of the van driver to slow down.
 

kevjs

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That junction is a brilliant display of awful driving.

Heading City-bound you have "traffic lights, tram lines, gap, pedestrian crossing"
Heading Beeston-bound you have "traffic lights, pedestrian crossing, gap, tram lines"

IME when there is queuing traffic...

About 10% will do what you expect - sit at the lights/line until they can clear the crossing, gap, and tram lines.
About 40% will move into the gap
About 30% will block the pedestrian crossings
About 20% will block the tram tracks

As someone regularly using the crossings I've lost count of the number of times I've been crossing on the green light when the traffic in the gap/on the tram lines starts driving over the crossing without looking (especially bad on the city bound side).

One the Beeston bound side I've seen plenty of cars who stop between the traffic lights and tram lines (either the gap or on the crossing) start moving when the trams starting to enter the crossing - I can imagine that in heavy traffic the trams (which will be coming from behind you) aren't easy to see.


In this particular case I've heard from numerous 3rd party sources that the van driver ran a red light while texting - but I've not seen this from any news source yet - although one of the people who told me said they heard it on Radio Nottingham.

And just to rub salt into the wound - the following morning some eejit managed to drive onto the tram only bridge and get stuck on Lenton Lane http://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/car-tram-tracks-mean-no-888863 - how you mange what without wearing a blindfold I've no idea - it's got enough bleeding signs, lights, and reflectors now!
 

duffield

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And just to rub salt into the wound - the following morning some eejit managed to drive onto the tram only bridge and get stuck on Lenton Lane http://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/car-tram-tracks-mean-no-888863 - how you mange what without wearing a blindfold I've no idea - it's got enough bleeding signs, lights, and reflectors now!

It's not an excuse for inattention to signs etc. but the road layout is not brilliant. Ideally the road should kink to the left and then angle right at the point where the tram tracks leave the road, so cars would be going straight on at this point. As it is, going straight on leads directly onto the tram tracks. The fact that this issue has happened a few times already since tram phase 2 opened indicates it's not ideal.
 

DriverToBe

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It's not an excuse for inattention to signs etc. but the road layout is not brilliant. Ideally the road should kink to the left and then angle right at the point where the tram tracks leave the road, so cars would be going straight on at this point. As it is, going straight on leads directly onto the tram tracks. The fact that this issue has happened a few times already since tram phase 2 opened indicates it's not ideal.

While I agree the road layout isn’t great and I know you said it’s not an excuse there are enough signs there and I really don’t think there is anything more highways could do.
Form what I’ve heard the driver was twice over the drink drive limit (don’t know definitely) and this has been the case for the last few cars being where they shouldn’t.

It was quite funny/worrying how many tyre tracks were in the snow along the tram barn at NG2 today.
 

edwin_m

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It's not an excuse for inattention to signs etc. but the road layout is not brilliant. Ideally the road should kink to the left and then angle right at the point where the tram tracks leave the road, so cars would be going straight on at this point. As it is, going straight on leads directly onto the tram tracks. The fact that this issue has happened a few times already since tram phase 2 opened indicates it's not ideal.
These divergences where the tramway leaves the road always create a risk of road vehicle incursion, sometimes because a road vehicle is following a tram and either the tram blocks the view of the signs or the road driver just assumes the tram is following the road. There has been progress in Manchester in installing more conspicuous signs and bollards including rumble strips, and a few years ago DfT finally agreed to use of the red "No Entry" sign with a plate "Except Trams" to replace the blue "Tram Only" sign which I bet at least 80% of road drivers don't understand. These sorts of measures have led to big drops in the rates of incidents.
 

kevjs

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NET having major issues this morning - no trams south of the Forest as Waverley Street is closed due to a police incident, and also a major fire at Nottingham Station closing the station.

http://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/police-incident-closes-road-arboretum-1047649
The closure, on Waverley Street next to The Arboretum, is affecting tram services in and out of the city.

Tram operator NET tweeted: "No trams can run through to the city. So no service from the Forest to Clifton or the Forest to Toton Lane.

An IOPC spokesperson said: “We were notified about this incident by Nottinghamshire Police this morning and we have deployed investigators to the scene and to the police post incident procedure to assess the level, if any, of our involvement.”
 
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