Nottingham Tram Extension

ashworth · 16 Dec 2011

The following is taken from the BBC Nottingham website:

A £570m extension to Nottingham's tram network has been given final approval, the city council has confirmed.

Work on the construction of two new lines, which will extend the tram system to Chilwell and Clifton, is expected to start in January.

A contract to build the lines has been given to Tramlink Nottingham, which will also take over the operation of the existing line to Hucknall.

Services on the new routes are expected to be running by late 2014.

The Nottingham tram Line 1 to Hucknall and Phoenix Park has undoubtedly been a great success, with passenger numbers very high at all times of the day. It's just a pity that this extension has taken so long to get approval and be constructed. It should have been completed by now.

One negative aspect of the scheme is that Nottingham City Transport Day Tickets are no longer valid on the trams due to switch of operator. Anyone wanting to use the buses and trams will now need to buy the more expensive Kangeroo Ticket. So much for making integrated transport systems more convenient!
It will be interesting to see, as the new operator has connections with the Trent Barton bus company, whether their zig zag and Mango tickets will eventually become valid on the trams. My experience of Trent Barton, over many years, is that they are a good bus operator, but with extremely expensive fares once you move away from their busy key routes into more rural areas.

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trentside · 16 Dec 2011

ashworth said:
One negative aspect of the scheme is that Nottingham City Transport Day Tickets are no longer valid on the trams due to switch of operator. Anyone wanting to use the buses and trams will now need to buy the more expensive Kangeroo Ticket. So much for making integrated transport systems more convenient!

While it's a shame that the ticket prices are increasing because the option for bus-tram journeys is now only Kangaroo, I can't help but feel for some this will offer better value. It gives people the option of any of the city's bus operators, as opposed to restricting them to NCT.

On the tram extensions, I think it's great news that they've finally got the go ahead - not before time. Obviously it will mean further changes to the bus network, and somehow I don't think the Nottingham - Beeston corridor will continue to support intensive frequencies from 3 operators.

WestCoast · 16 Dec 2011

The NET is a great system for Nottingham, and I am glad that work will finally begin on expanding it. Most people seem to be supportive of the existing line now and it does carry high numbers of passengers throughout the day.

I note Tramlink taking over has adjusted the fare structure, although at least a reasonable integrated ticket will remain (which is valid for all operators and local rail services), that is not the case everywhere. I did read an article some months ago now where Tramlink mentioned that they may remove conductors from the trams and opt for a smartcard system with ticket machines instead. Is that credible at all?

gordonthemoron · 16 Dec 2011

that's what they've said they're going to do, however they'll probably back track

tbtc · 16 Dec 2011

ashworth said:
The Nottingham tram Line 1 to Hucknall and Phoenix Park has undoubtedly been a great success, with passenger numbers very high at all times of the day

Agreed - its so busy at Phoenix Park when I use it that we've driven further into Nottingham to one of the other P&R sites to double the number of trams available (due to the twelve minute wait)

Mojo · 16 Dec 2011

Great to see the best transport authority in Britain pushing even more for excellent high-quality transport.

bb21 · 17 Dec 2011

Good to see progress finally. I think I still have one of the promotional material from the original development in 2001 showing the proposed route of NET Two, Three and Four lying around somewhere. I'll have a look to see if I can still dig it out.

brianthegiant · 19 Dec 2011

Hmm, if 2 & 3 are the Clifton & Beeston/Stapleford Branches what was 4?
any mention of the Extension of line 1 to Giltbrook, etc currently being campaigned for?

gordonthemoron · 19 Dec 2011

there is some campaign group in Kimberley to extend NET from Phoenix Park to Giltbrook. Don't know of any other extensions. There was one mooted to go over Trent Bridge to West Bridgford but that got knocked on the head ages ago after intervention by Ken Clarke.

Personally I think the should fill in the canal alongside Lady Bay and run from TB, past the City Ground to a new P&R at Gamston. This would have the added benefit of being only a few yards from my house as the wife wouldn't move to Wilford like I suggested

Deerfold · 20 Dec 2011

trentside said:
While it's a shame that the ticket prices are increasing because the option for bus-tram journeys is now only Kangaroo, I can't help but feel for some this will offer better value. It gives people the option of any of the city's bus operators, as opposed to restricting them to NCT.

I can't see how it gives anyone better value as the option of buying the more expensive Kangaroo ticket was already there.

brianthegiant · 20 Dec 2011

trentside said:
While it's a shame that the ticket prices are increasing because the option for bus-tram journeys is now only Kangaroo, I can't help but feel for some this will offer better value. It gives people the option of any of the city's bus operators, as opposed to restricting them to NCT.

I think there are plans afoot to introduce an oyster type system in Nottingham to improve integration, the cards will also enable cycle hire & possibly access to the bike compound at Nottingham Station. Cant remember where I heard this, but probably on Pedals minutes, I think the project is funded by the workplace parking levy and Whitehall. East Midlands trains are already installing an ITSO compatible system.

Will be intesting to see if the Chilwell branch gets extended down the hill to Toton sidings as part of the HS2 station dispersal strategy...

WillPS · 21 Dec 2011

Why, on all pages mentioned, is the dropping of CityRider tickets put down to "legal reasons" and not simply NCT have nothing to do with the tram any more!?

scandal · 3 Jan 2012

brianthegiant said:
I think there are plans afoot to introduce an oyster type system in Nottingham to improve integration, the cards will also enable cycle hire & possibly access to the bike compound at Nottingham Station. Cant remember where I heard this, but probably on Pedals minutes, I think the project is funded by the workplace parking levy and Whitehall.

The LSTF funding from the DfT in July 2011 was for an ITSO smartcard across Nottingham including the ambitious task of reissuing 300,000 CityCards.

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=26672&p=0

brianthegiant · 6 Feb 2012

Work has begun, properties being boarded up & demolished, trees being felled, utilities being moved. It's all going on in Beeston..

MCR247 · 6 Feb 2012

Work is also taking place in Wilford near the Becket school

tom1649 · 9 Feb 2012

Glad to hear that this has started. After so many delays I was starting to believe it would never happen. It'll probably still be completed before Edinburgh's is open though!

Wyvern · 9 Feb 2012

brianthegiant said:
East Midlands trains are already installing an ITSO compatible system.

If this is the same as at all other EMT's stations, its simply for travel to and from St. Pancras. Initially at any rate.

TRAINALEX100 · 9 Feb 2012

i just hope that they won't expand the tram any further west of stapleford

Deerfold · 9 Feb 2012

TRAINALEX100 said:
i just hope that they won't expand the tram any further west of stapleford

Any particular reason?

deltic1989 · 9 Feb 2012

I'm thinking that the extention will be a good thing for the city and further improve an already very good transport system. My new place is just round the corner from where rumours say the Clifton stop will be, and to be fair if I want to get into the city I would opt for the tram, simply to avoid bouncing around Clifton on an Omni-decker with little or no suspention, as the place is covered with speed humps that do nothing to slow traffic down i might add. I went into town earlier and im convinced the 48 caught air on the way back.

tom1649 · 10 Feb 2012

Nottingham is lucky to have excellent public transport. The city council was very sensible to retain control of Nottingham City Transport. Whilst not the same as regulation, this is the next best thing. One of the only new tram systems to be established without the funding and resources of a PTE is in Nottingham and this in itself is a major achievement.

Many other councils have sold their municiple operators to make a fast buck and perhaps later regretted it (others probably couldn't care less, depending on their political persuasion).

The fact that Nottingham is the least car dependent city outside London speaks for itself.

Deerfold · 10 Feb 2012

tom1649 said:
Nottingham is lucky to have excellent public transport. The city council was very sensible to retain control of Nottingham City Transport.

Technically they don't control it, merely own a majority of it (It's supposed to be arms length without the council directing it in any way). It just so happens the company operates in much the way the council would want it to...

tom1649 said:
Whilst not the same as regulation, this is the next best thing. One of the only new tram systems to be established without the funding and resources of a PTE is in Nottingham and this in itself is a major achievement.

Many other councils have sold their municiple operators to make a fast buck and perhaps later regretted it (others probably couldn't care less, depending on their political persuasion).

Councils were heavily leaned on and were given a date by which to sell their bus operations - or if they did not they would not be permitted to keep any revenue from a sale - it would pass to Central government. I think this was in 1992 (Greater Manchester was given an extension as there were delays in splitting up and selling GM Buses). Many councils who had not been in a rush to sell thought they might want to raise cash some day and so had better do it straight away.

tom1649 · 10 Feb 2012

Thanks for the explanation.

Deerfold · 10 Feb 2012

And of course there were a lot of local operations which were sold to local management (eg Yorkshire Rider, now First Yorkshire (along with a handful of smaller operators) - I don't think a lot of councils expected quite the rise of the bus groups and that so many would be gobbled up so quickly - and by companies that rapidly had the resources to be quite unpleasant to companies who put up a fight.

silvermachine · 11 Feb 2012

deltic1989 said:
I'm thinking that the extention will be a good thing for the city and further improve an already very good transport system. My new place is just round the corner from where rumours say the Clifton stop will be, and to be fair if I want to get into the city I would opt for the tram, simply to avoid bouncing around Clifton on an Omni-decker with little or no suspention, as the place is covered with speed humps that do nothing to slow traffic down i might add. I went into town earlier and im convinced the 48 caught air on the way back.

You don't have to listen to rumours, the tram stops in clifton are going to be:

north end of Southchurch Drive
At then of Rivergreen
Just south of the Clifton Cornerstone
Holy trinity

There is an information evening for clifton residents at the cornerstone on the 8th March 5:30 onwards for more details.

Heinz57 · 11 Feb 2012

Could be good to see them out at Trent Bridge. Three stadiums out there - Forest, Notts County and the Cricket Ground. Quite beneficial financialy. But not just the stadiums. Other things out there too, many tourists want to see the bridge itself (Why?), the resturants. Its quite a distance walking so if the trams headed up there. Kerching!
Do the trams head up near Forest Recreation Ground? If not then they should. One or two events going off up there. Look at Goose Fair alone. Just that could financialy warrent the Trams up there.

ashworth said:
It will be interesting to see, as the new operator has connections with the Trent Barton bus company, whether their zig zag and Mango tickets will eventually become valid on the trams. My experience of Trent Barton, over many years, is that they are a good bus operator, but with extremely expensive fares once you move away from their busy key routes into more rural areas.

Its under the Wellglade banner isn't it this new operator? Wouldn'y surprise me if they at least had the Mangos valid on the trams. Could be financialy beneficial for them.

Off on a tangent but I'm surprised Trent/Wellglade didn't get in on NCT too. Went to some French company instead. Would have thought Wellglade would have loved a bit of that, completeley manopolising Nottingham.

Deerfold · 12 Feb 2012

Heinz57 said:
Do the trams head up near Forest Recreation Ground? If not then they should. One or two events going off up there. Look at Goose Fair alone. Just that could financialy warrent the Trams up there.

It's served there ever since it started - http://www.thetram.net/pdfs/the_forest.pdf

silvermachine · 12 Feb 2012

Heinz57 said:
Could be good to see them out at Trent Bridge. Three stadiums out there - Forest, Notts County and the Cricket Ground. Quite beneficial financialy. But not just the stadiums. Other things out there too, many tourists want to see the bridge itself (Why?), the resturants. Its quite a distance walking so if the trams headed up there. Kerching!

Routing the tram through Trent Bridge was originally proposed, but scuppered by local politics. West Bridgford / trent bridge is not a part of nottingham city but is Rushcliffe council. They and their local mp Ken Clarke were and are vehemently opposed to the tram, hence the routing away from trent bridge.

Heinz57 · 12 Feb 2012

Deerfold said:
It's served there ever since it started - http://www.thetram.net/pdfs/the_forest.pdf

Thanks, I wasn't too sure if it did. Its been a while since I've been up that end of Nottingham. Or on the tram for that matter.

Interesting? Didn't know Trent Bridge isn't part of Nottingham City Council. I wonder, why be aposed to the Tram? I think its a great idea, deffinatly doesn't add to the problem of conjestion in the City. And they arn't exactly loud either. Probably the cost. But I'm sure it could easily make back the amount it cost to build it - with the right support.

HSTEd · 12 Feb 2012

Isnt the whole Rushcliffe thing the cause of the City Ground being outside the City but Meadow Lane being inside?

Either way, has the mooted joint County/Forest stadium died in the aftermath of the failed World Cup bid or is it still around and just on the back burner?

Nottingham Tram Extension

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