MCR247
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You'd easily get the stations done in one day, but yeah trams will take longer and will probably be very tedious! Good luck 
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brianthegiant
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Yes. So they'll operate a fleet of 37 trams, on 2 lines each line is about 60 minutes in each direction, running every 7.5 minutes (3.3 mins in central section). I know new drivers have been hired and already work old lines and new trams but not sure how many drivers there are.
Because the all the new routes will run on both old and new lines, the whole driver roster would need to have the route knowledge for new lines from from day 1.
So the big question is whether it would take 3 months of training after testing is complete to train the entire roster with the route knowledge?
If that is the case then the opening date for the Toton line would be end of march + 3 months testing + 3 months training = late september or later if entire Toton line isn't ready for testing by end of march?
CallySleeper
Established Member
^^^ Technically I think a total of zero new drivers were 'hired'!
Trust us mate. The new lines will take you a couple of hours at most, half a day for the whole network. Obviously to get your trams you'll be using the core, I'd say another half day at most if done efficiently.
Bear in mind, first and foremost nobody knows yet a) opening date and b) whether it'll be a full or staggered opening. By staggered I mean opening one line first and/or running a reduced passenger service at the start. Also, at present only a handful of new trams are in passenger service, the remainder are still being tested and this might still be the case if they choose to open with a reduced service. Also, of course not all trams that are able to run on any given day will be in service.
Personally as MCR247 said, I too don't quite understand the need to ride on every single tram on our wee system, as boring, tedious and unremarkable a feat as it is, but every man to himself...
Trust us mate. The new lines will take you a couple of hours at most, half a day for the whole network. Obviously to get your trams you'll be using the core, I'd say another half day at most if done efficiently.
Bear in mind, first and foremost nobody knows yet a) opening date and b) whether it'll be a full or staggered opening. By staggered I mean opening one line first and/or running a reduced passenger service at the start. Also, at present only a handful of new trams are in passenger service, the remainder are still being tested and this might still be the case if they choose to open with a reduced service. Also, of course not all trams that are able to run on any given day will be in service.
Personally as MCR247 said, I too don't quite understand the need to ride on every single tram on our wee system, as boring, tedious and unremarkable a feat as it is, but every man to himself...
gordonthemoron
Established Member
there are some nice pubs near some of the tramstops:
Basford - Fox & Crown
Shipstone Street - The Lion and The Horse & Groom
Old Market Square - The Bell
Station - Vat & Fiddle, Newshouse, Canalhouse & Fellows (yes I do like Castle Rock)
Unfortunately nowt much on Phase 2 route. The Vic in Beeston is closer to the station than the tram, Hop Pole on Chilwell Road is/was OK, Ferry at Wilford is more for food although you may run into Ken Clarke
Basford - Fox & Crown
Shipstone Street - The Lion and The Horse & Groom
Old Market Square - The Bell
Station - Vat & Fiddle, Newshouse, Canalhouse & Fellows (yes I do like Castle Rock)
Unfortunately nowt much on Phase 2 route. The Vic in Beeston is closer to the station than the tram, Hop Pole on Chilwell Road is/was OK, Ferry at Wilford is more for food although you may run into Ken Clarke
brianthegiant
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openstreetmaps shows all the crossovers
you missed a few Gordon, the Crown behind the new Beeston interchange is an excellent Camra pub. the Star Inn and the White Lion both opposite the interchange on south side both been done up recently & offer interesting events, food etc. Vic & Hope Pole are ok, but rest of beeston pubs are nothing special (to put it politely).
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Much as I'll never understand a lot of things. Tedious, for me, would be watching football/other sport, for example.
It's all about filling the books! Clearly you lot up there don't understand the way of the basher, but then it is the wrong side of the Midlands...
CallySleeper
Established Member
It's all about filling the books! Clearly you lot up there don't understand the way of the basher, but then it is the wrong side of the Midlands...
Haha, on our pokey wee network there's nothing to fill yer books with!
duffield
Established Member
I've been following the tram extension project very closely since the start (and walk part of the route regularly), so for what it's worth here's my opinion:
August (or earlier): Chances of full public service - possible but quite unlikely.
September: Possible, but still quite risky to book leave soon.
October: Probably open by now, still a (slight) gamble.
November: Should be a safe option.
I'd advise leaving your leave booking for as long as possible for further developments (e.g. we may have more certainty once at least one test tram has run the entire length of both lines).
Another minor issue is that it's my guess that once all the old and new trams are in service on the old and new lines, that some of the old trams may get rotated out of service 1 or 2 at a time for 'refresh' purposes. So if you really need to 'collect' all the old trams (as well as the new ones) you might be disappointed!
CallySleeper
Established Member
If you mean an interior refresh, this was just done recently?
duffield
Established Member
I suppose I was thinking they might want to make them a bit more like the new trams in some respects (c.f. 'pretendalino'). However, as you say there was a recent interior refresh so maybe not.
But in any case, are they going to have a 'rotating spare' tram or something? Or will they use all trams at some point of the day every day? I don't really know what's likely.
CallySleeper
Established Member
No as was the case previously there will be a handful of trams stabled as spares or requiring maintenance.
duffield
Established Member
Some fairly nasty-looking cracks receiving attention on Meadows way (near Kinglake Place) last Friday. Looked worse that other ones I'd seen - a small section of textured road surface seemed to have not only cracked away from the surrounding area but sunk about 1/2".
On the brighter side the wiring is progressing fairly rapidly around the Beeston tram stop area, and Lenton Lane at/near Clayton's canal bridge looks nearly ready to reopen to through traffic.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm getting more pessimistic. Micro-cracks seem to have developed on virtually every section of the 'texturing strips' on the entire length of the on-street sections of line 3 between station street and beeston.
I'm starting to wonder if all of these sections will need re-doing.
I wanted to take some pictures but my phone battery was dead (thanks Cortana!). What i see is when the texturing has got wet and then nearly dried out, there are visible lines which retain the damp last; some of these have visible cracks and some don't, but the situation seems to be getting consistently worse almost day by day.
If anyone has any reason to think I'm being too pessimistic, please tell us all; I'm not an expert in concrete and may be misinterpreting what I'm seeing; but it does not look good, and I take a*very* close look at the on-street sections about 3 times per week!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
On a brighter note, daytime test running is starting today (i.e. Monday 09/02/2014):
http://www.thetram.net/latest-news/1/first-day-time-tests/
On the brighter side the wiring is progressing fairly rapidly around the Beeston tram stop area, and Lenton Lane at/near Clayton's canal bridge looks nearly ready to reopen to through traffic.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm getting more pessimistic. Micro-cracks seem to have developed on virtually every section of the 'texturing strips' on the entire length of the on-street sections of line 3 between station street and beeston.
I'm starting to wonder if all of these sections will need re-doing.
I wanted to take some pictures but my phone battery was dead (thanks Cortana!). What i see is when the texturing has got wet and then nearly dried out, there are visible lines which retain the damp last; some of these have visible cracks and some don't, but the situation seems to be getting consistently worse almost day by day.
If anyone has any reason to think I'm being too pessimistic, please tell us all; I'm not an expert in concrete and may be misinterpreting what I'm seeing; but it does not look good, and I take a*very* close look at the on-street sections about 3 times per week!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
On a brighter note, daytime test running is starting today (i.e. Monday 09/02/2014):
http://www.thetram.net/latest-news/1/first-day-time-tests/
Last edited:
Mitch in Notts
Member
Wonder if the weather is a factor in this cracking. We have laid quite a lot of concrete over the last few years with no problem, but a slight slope we did last September has started to crack and crumble which we don't get.
I was also speaking to a lady who lives off of Chilwell High Road on Friday who said cars keep driving onto the tram only section just after Broxtowe College!
I was also speaking to a lady who lives off of Chilwell High Road on Friday who said cars keep driving onto the tram only section just after Broxtowe College!
brianthegiant
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there is a lot of hysteria locally about the cracking, but my guess is that most of it is specific to the top high friction surface due to weather etc, rather than a structural issue affecting the foundations. The problems aren't limited to the areas of especially poor ground conditions where piles were also used below the main foundation block.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
About 1315 on Tuesday I saw a Citadis stop on the station bridge then disappear off towards Meadows. About ten people on board in hi-vis, some of which was marked "Trainer". I'm not usually around at that time of day but on the occasions I pass morning and evening the track has always previously been barriered off at the foot of the bridge ramp, and as far as I'm aware there have only been late night test runs.
Does this mean driver training is getting under way, or has this sort of thing been going on for ages and I've just missed seeing it?
Does this mean driver training is getting under way, or has this sort of thing been going on for ages and I've just missed seeing it?
MCR247
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Daytime testing started this week between Station St and Emmanuel school (just before wilford lane)
martinr1
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Two trams were out today testing between Nottinham Station and Wilford. Here is a short video of the activity
http://youtu.be/83-k3UU_ZJc
http://youtu.be/83-k3UU_ZJc
Robertj21a
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Any reason for the very low angle ? - or the extreme wide angle lens ?
martinr1
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Trams are currently turning back at the edge of Clifton, the paths from there to Wilford lane are now open and Line 2 looks fundamentally complete, it's finishing the platforms and footpaths which need to be done
Lenton Lane has also been open for its entire length for the weekend, alas it closes at the junction with the bridge for ng2.
Lenton Lane has also been open for its entire length for the weekend, alas it closes at the junction with the bridge for ng2.
edwin_m
Veteran Member
I also took a look around the Clifton route today. Does anyone know why they have electrified the "siding" at Wilford Lane? This can't be used for terminating trams due to no platform or crossover, it's not much use for parking a cripple because a trailing siding would trap the assisting tram, and the only purpose I can think of is to load and unload on-track plant to maintain the ballasted section, that might not be able to travel through the city centre.
Somewhere to store a spare south of the centre but near enough to quickly roster it on when the line inevitably gets closed through the centre.?
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Nowhere near opening still I take it?
edwin_m
Veteran Member
If anything it's the other way round. If the line gets closed in the centre during the day there will be more than enough trams to run a residual service between Clifton/Chilwell and the railway station. The problem is to stash some of them somewhere to prevent tram congestion, and this is the only half-good reason I can think of to electrify the siding.
If the line gets closed during the night then having one tram there won't make much of a dent in the passenger numbers so it would be best just to cancel the whole service south of the blockage. Despite the fenced compound I don't think I'd leave £2m of tram there unattended anyway.
The 2002 consultation docs say "A NET maintenance access area would be located on the north side of Wilford Lane, adjacent to the tramway.
This would consist of a secure hard surfaced area providing easy access to the tramway."
Wonder if this is to save having to drag a faulty tram though the city centre during the day? IIRC they layout of the tracks is such that a tram from line 3 can be dragged onto line 2 without going on the wrong side of the road at point.
This would consist of a secure hard surfaced area providing easy access to the tramway."
Wonder if this is to save having to drag a faulty tram though the city centre during the day? IIRC they layout of the tracks is such that a tram from line 3 can be dragged onto line 2 without going on the wrong side of the road at point.
duffield
Established Member
The nominal date is still 'middle of the year' (undefined) and my guess is still September(ish) as it was a couple of months ago.
Line 3 (Beeston/Chillwell) testing is supposed to extend to the QMC next week (although I'm guessing this might slip a week). Lots of test trams can be seen on Line 2.
Major junction at Abbey Bridge has just opened with working signals etc.
Dodgy concrete patching seems to be proceeding a bit faster now; I think some of the minor faults will probably be patched when the line is running (as they're not structural).
There's not a huge amount of essential work remaining to be done as far as I can see.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Some notable progress on the testing front:
http://www.thetram.net/latest-news/1/first-tram-tests-at-qmc/
Summary:
Line 3 first tram to QMC/University Boulevard last night. A surprise to me since my 'track inspection' on Tuesday night showed a few things were not ready...
Line 2 testing as far as Clifton Centre (getting near to whole line length).
brianthegiant
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no ticket machines inserted into stands on line 3 yet & a lot of signalling to be finished.
duffield
Established Member
The ticket machines are probably being held back until just before opening to minimise vandalism (they're probably less likely to get vandalised once the service is running and passengers are getting on and off at stops).
They shouldn't take long to slot in and it's not important to do it now since there's plenty of testing and training to do yet.
The signalling is more urgent but they can at least (and have) done night time testing without it being complete (I.e. they've run to the University Boulevard crossover without complete signalling).
Anyhow, I'm going to inspect the progress later today (haven't had a look since last week).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Following day:
As I thought, none of the signalling on and around University Boulevard is active yet. So until this is complete this section will be limited to night-time running (presumably with flagmen/road cones etc. deployed as necessary?).
Chris125
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First test runs through to Clifton Park & Ride have been completed.
MCR247
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I think this week was also the first time a Bombardier tram ran on the Clifton line
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