Nottingham Express Transit

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Robin Hood at the former Station Street tram stop

Nottingham Express Transit (NET) is a 20-mile-long[1] tramway in Nottingham (map). The system opened to the public on 9 March 2004 and a second phase, that more than doubled the size of the total system, opened on 25 August 2015.

The tramway is operated and maintained by Nottingham Trams Ltd. on behalf of the Tramlink Nottingham consortium.[2] It was operated by Arrow Light Rail, another consortium[2] from 9 March 2004 until 16 December 2011.[3][4] Arrow Light Rail had been contracted to operate the system for 30 years; the addition of lines to the system led to retendering.

History

Planning and construction of phase one

Nottingham and the surrounding urban area is the UK's seventh largest and third fastest-growing urban area. However traditionally Nottingham's economy was to a large extent based on manufacturing and coal mining, and in the second half of the 20th century the area was affected by the decline in these industries. Additionally a high population density, a road system constrained by crossings of the River Trent, and a concentration of retail and entertainment outlets in the city centre lead to road congestion and high bus usage. In the late 1980s, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council identified the possibility of using a modern tramway as a means of stimulating urban renewal, as well as tackling road congestion.[5]

In 1998, the Minister of State for Transport, John Reid, confirmed the availability of £167 million funding for a new tram system, to be known as Nottingham Express Transit, to run between Nottingham and Hucknall.[6]

In March 2000, the joint promoters, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, awarded a 30-year Private Finance Initiative concession to the Arrow Light Rail Ltd consortium, with responsibility for the design, funding, building, operation and maintenance of the line. The consortium was made up of Adtranz (later subsumed into Bombardier Transportation), who were responsible for the trams, Carillion, who were responsible for the infrastructure, Transdev and Nottingham City Transport (NCT).[5][7]

As built, the system was 8¾ miles miles long and served 23 tram stops. Construction cost a total of £200 million.[7]

Opening of phase one

Nottingham Express Transit began operation in March 2004, with a line operating north from a terminal at Station Street, just to the north of Nottingham railway station] through the city centre, branching to serve twin termini at Hucknall and Phoenix Park. Once the line was complete, operation was sub-contracted by Arrow Light Rail to the Nottingham Tram Consortium (NTC), an equal partnership between Transdev and Nottingham City Transport.[5]

The new line proved successful, leading to an increase of public transport use for the Nottingham urban area of 8% in the five years to 2008, together with a less than 1% growth in road traffic, compared to the national average of around 4%.[5] Nottingham had exceeded the most optimistic predictions, carrying 9.7 million people in 2005. This bolstered the case for the construction of new lines.

Planning and construction of phase two

In January 2003, even before the first phase had opened, the two councils had decided to start consultation on a second phase to serve the urban areas south and west, with routes to Clifton via Wilford, and to Chilwell via Beeston.[5][8]

Approval for phase two was given on 25 October 2006 with the UK Government agreeing to provide up to £437 million in Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits. The local councils will also provide up to £141 million in PFI credits. The two local councils (Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City Councils) voted on 22 February 2007 and 3 March 2007 respectively to table an application for a Transport & Works Act Order. The City and County Councils’ application for the order were available to view from 26 April 2007 to 7 June 2007 when it was submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport for consideration. A public inquiry was held in December 2007. The project was given the go-ahead by the government on 30 March 2009.[5]

Following the local elections in 2009, Nottinghamshire County Council indicated that it was no longer willing to contribute financially to the project, so Nottingham City Council decided to cover the shortfall and be the sole promoter. Nottinghamshire County Council confirmed that it would not obstruct the project.[9] Funding was approved by the government on 31 July 2009.[10] Selecting and appointing the contractor was expected to take two years. Building work was expected to begin in 2011, in two phases, with trams running from 2014. The scheme survived the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review ordered by the government, and on 24 March 2011 the government confirmed that funding had been approved.[11][12]

Golden spike ceremony held on 27 November 2014 to mark the completion of trackwork on the Beeston and Chilwell line[13][14]

As part of this process, the concession to operate the existing system was terminated. A new concession put out to tender to design and build phase two, to operate and maintain the existing system in the meantime, and to operate and maintain the extended system once completed. Although Arrow Light Rail bid, they lost out to a new consortium known as Tramlink Nottingham Limited, made up of Meridiam (30 per cent), OFI InfraVia (20 per cent), Alstom Transport (12½ per cent), Keolis (12½ per cent), Vinci Investments (12½ per cent), and Wellglade Limited (12½ per cent). As with the previous consortium, operation was further sub-contracted to a consortium of Keolis (80%) and Wellglade (20%), with maintenance sub-contracted to Alstom Transport. As a result of Wellglade's ownership of Trent Barton, who operate bus services in the Nottingham area, the new concession was referred to, and approved by, the Office of Fair Trading. The finalised contract was signed on 15 December 2011.[2][5][15]

Construction of phase two started in 2012. There were construction delays and by the end of 2014 it was at least 6 months behind schedule. There were complaints from residents affected by works and traders whose businesses have been damaged by the late running construction. Track laying was completed on 11 December 2014.[16][17][18]

Opening of phase two

The first powered test run on a short section of the line took place by Alstom Citadis tram 222 in the early hours of Friday 22 August 2014, running from Station Street via The Meadows to Wilford, before returning to Station Street. With the completion of track laying, testing of phase two commenced in earnest.

The first section of phase two to open to the public was the new tram station above Nottingham railway station, which replaced the Station Street stop as the southern terminus of the line on 27 July 2015. The remainder of phase two opened at 0600 on 25 August 2015.[19][20][21]

During the planning and construction phases, the initial system (including both branches) was often referred to as line 1, with the line 2 name used for the new line to Clifton and line 3 for the new line to Chilwell. With the publication of the timetables covering through running between the initial system and phase two, this terminology was changed, with line 1 referring to the through service from Hucknall to Chilwell, and line 2 to the service from Phoenix Park to Clifton.[22]

The route from Toton Lane Park and Ride into Nottingham ran the first public services from 06:00 on Tuesday 25 August 2015.[23]

Network

All NET trams are named, tram 205 carries the name of Lord Byron

The network consists of two lines that cross the city, running together on a common section for the middle part of their journey, including the city centre section. Line 1 runs between Chilwell and Hucknall, features a total of 33 or 34 tram stops, depending on direction, and has a journey time throughout of 62 minutes. Line 2 runs between Clifton and Phoenix Park, features 27 or 28 tram stops, depending on direction, and has a journey time throughout of 47 minutes. The system has a total length of 20 miles.[22]

Trams on each line run at frequencies that vary between 4 and 8 trams per hour, depending on the day and time of day. These services combine to provide up to 16 trams per hour on the common section.[22]

Toton branch (line 1)

The southern branch of line 1 commences at Toton Lane tram stop, a large Park & Ride site. The site is situated to the west of Chilwell, north of Toton and south of Stapleford, and is just a mile along the Stapleford bypass (A52) from junction 25 of the M1 motorway. The line then proceeds via Chilwell, Beeston, the University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, the ng2 business park and the northern edge of the Meadows residential area, before reaching Nottingham railway station.

The branch is six miles long, of which about half is segregated. There are 15 tram stops on the branch, and the journey between Toton Lane and Nottingham railway station takes 30 minutes.[22][24]

Clifton branch (line 2)

The southern branch of line 2 commences at Clifton South tram stop, a large Park & Ride site in the city of Nottingham. This is just to the south-west of the large suburb of Clifton, on the A453 road. It then proceeds on street through the heavily built up Clifton Estate before using part of the Great Central Railway formation through the Ruddington Lane area to the village of Wilford. It then crosses the River Trent on the Wilford Toll Bridge, which has been widened to allow pedestrians and cyclists to continue to use it, and runs through the Meadows residential area, before reaching Nottingham railway station.

The branch is 4¾ miles long, of which almost two thirds is segregated. There are 12 tram stops on the branch, and the journey between Clifton South and Nottingham railway station takes 21 minutes.[22][25]

Common section (lines 1 & 2)

The two southern branches unite at a junction just before Nottingham railway station, which is situated on the southern edge of the city centre. The tramway crosses above the station platforms on its own dedicated bridge that also carries a tram stop that is directly connected to the station concourse.

From Nottingham station the common section runs north through the city centre, passing the Lace Market, the Old Market Square and Nottingham Trent University to the Forest Recreation Ground. To the north is a section of about ⅔ mile, where northbound and southbound trams follow different streets, crossing at each end to run on the 'wrong side'. The two tracks rejoin at Wilkinson Street tram stop, where the depot is situated. Between the station and Wilkinson Street trams run in the street, but all other traffic is heavily restricted or, in some cases, banned altogether. There are Park & Ride sites at the Forest Recreation Ground and Wilkinson Street.

North of Wilkinson Street, the route joins a former Midland Railway alignment, which it shares with the Robin Hood railway line. The two lines run next to each other, segregated by a fence, through Basford to Highbury Vale tram stop, where the two lines again diverge.

Hucknall branch (line 1)

Line 1 continues to run alongside the Robin Hood line north of Highbury Vale as far as its terminus. The line serves Bulwell railway station where railway interchange is provided. North of this station, the tram line becomes single track as far as its terminus at Hucknall railway station, albeit with passing loops at each of the three intermediate stops. Hucknall station also provides interchange with the Robin Hood line, as well as being a Park & Ride side.

Phoenix Park branch (line 2)

Line 2 diverges from line 1 at Highbury Vale. After that stop, the line becomes single track as far as its terminus at Phoenix Park tram stop, following the alignment of a former colliery railway. Cinderhill tram stop is the only intermediate stop on this branch, and the only stop on the system where trams use the same single platform in both directions. Phoenix Park is a Park & Ride site.

Tram fleet

The system started with fifteen Incentro AT6/5 trams, similar to those used on the Nantes tramway, built by Bombardier Transportation in Derby. They were named after famous local people. The Flexity Outlook Eurotram had also been considered and rejected as its large single-leaf doors did not comply with British door-alarm regulations.

On 8 March 2013, Nottingham Express Transit announced that all trams would be refurbished and receive a new livery and interior. The first tram to be refurbished was 215. Refurbishment of all trams was completed by September 2014.

A pair of new NET Citadis trams at Wilkinson Street depot in Nottingham

In preparation for the Phase Two extensions to Beeston and Clifton, 22 new Alstom Citadis 302 trams had been ordered. The first Citadis tram (216) arrived at the depot on 10 September 2013. Along with the current Incentro fleet, they ran test operation on the new lines from Summer 2014 and also on the current network.[11] The first Citadis trams (216-221) entered passenger service for the day on 27 July 2014, as part of a trial for the new timetable which was then introduced on 26 August 2014.

The trams are stored and maintained at the Wilkinson Street depot, which was expanded as part of the phase two works.

 Number   Class  Image  Top speed   Length   Capacity  Quantity  Built   Notes 
 Seated   Standing 
201–215 Incentro AT6/5 50 mph 108 ft 62 129 15 2002–2003 [26]
216–237 Citadis 302 43 mph 105 ft 58 144 22 2013–2014 [26][27][28]

NET have a road-rail-equipped Unimog truck. A battery-powered shunter is used to move trams on non-electrified tracks within the depot.[26]

References

  1. ↑ "NET Extensions 2012 - 2015: Expanding Nottingham's Tram Network". Nottingham City Council. 25 August 2015. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150921120049/http://transport.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/Projects/NET-extensions.aspx. Retrieved 19 September 2015. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 (report) Anticipated acquisition by Tramlink Nottingham Consortium of NET Phase Two concession. Office of Fair Trading. 12 September 2011. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20131111012945/http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/mergers_ea02/2011/tramlink.pdf. Retrieved 1 February 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Changes to tram ticketing come into effect". Nottingham City Council. 16 December 2011. http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/index.aspx?articleid=16948. Retrieved 1 February 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Nottingham Express Transit : who's who". thetrams.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150106031022/http://www.thetrams.co.uk/net/whoswho.php. Retrieved 5 September 2014. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 "Nottingham Express Transit, United Kingdom". railway-technology.com. Kable Intelligence Limited. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150805125536/http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/nottingham/. Retrieved 5 August 2015. 
  6. ↑ Walker, Tracy (25 August 2015). "The history of the Nottingham tram". Nottingham Post (Local World Limited). Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150921122712/http://www.nottinghampost.com/history-Nottingham-tram/story-27668114-detail/story.html. Retrieved 27 August 2015. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Nottingham Express Transit Bringing Nottingham Together. Tramways & Urban Transit in association with Tramlink Nottingham and Nottingham City Council. 
  8. ↑ "Network Update". Nottingham City Council. January 2003. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150805141335/http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=17746&p=0. Retrieved 5 August 2015. 
  9. ↑ This is Nottingham (10 July 2009). "Tories promise not to impede tram extension". Nottingham Post (Local World Limited). Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150921123728/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Tories-promise-impede-tram-extension/story-12235824-detail/story.html. Retrieved 21 September 2015. 
  10. ↑ "Nottingham tram PFI deal and parking levy approved". Transport Briefing (Acumen Intelligence Ltd.). http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/news/story?id=6110. Retrieved 19 September 2015. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Tramlink Nottingham named preferred bidder for NET Phase 2". Railway Gazette (DVV Media UK Ltd). 6 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150921124548/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/tramlink-nottingham-preferred-bidder-for-net-phase-2.html. 
  12. ↑ "Comprehensive spending review backs light rail". Railway Gazette (DVV Media UK Ltd). 29 October 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. http://web.archive.org/web/20120927224726/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/comprehensive-spending-review-backs-light-rail.html. 
  13. ↑ "Final trackwork to be completed on Beeston tram line". ITV News. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20141129124120/http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-11-27/final-trackwork-to-be-completed-on-beeston-tram-line/. Retrieved 27 November 2014. 
  14. ↑ Pritchard, Jon (28 November 2014). "Nottingham tram: Final bolt is tightened in Chilwell High Road". Nottingham Post (Local World Limited). Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20141202072434/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Light-end-tunnel/story-24819573-detail/story.html. Retrieved 28 November 2014. "Pictured, from left, are: Paul Harris, programme director for Taylor Woodrow Alstom; Labour councillor Steve Barber; Phil Hewitt, chief executive of Tram Link Nottingham; and Didier Marcillou, executive director of Alstom." 
  15. ↑ "Nottingham tram Phase Two contract signed". Railway Gazette (DVV Media UK Ltd). 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150921130937/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/nottingham-tram-phase-two-contract-signed.html. 
  16. ↑ "Background to the NET Phase Two Project". Tramlink Nottingham. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150805144239/http://www.tramlinknottingham.co.uk/net-phase-2/. Retrieved 5 August 2015. 
  17. ↑ Russell, Dan (16 December 2014). "Tram contractors will be paid less for delays but struggling traders will not get more compensation". Nottingham Evening Post (Local World Limited). Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150630170141/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Tram-contractors-paid-delays-struggling-traders/story-25717124-detail/story.html. Retrieved 5 January 2015. 
  18. ↑ "Last piece of track fixed into position". Nottingham Express Transit. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150805145545/http://www.thetram.net/last-piece-of-track-fixed-into-position.aspx. Retrieved 5 August 2015. 
  19. ↑ "New tram stop for station". Nottingham Express Transit. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150921141555/http://www.thetram.net/new-tram-stop-for-station.aspx. Retrieved 5 August 2015. 
  20. ↑ "History made as new tram routes open". Nottingham Express Transit. Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150921142800/http://www.thetram.net/history-made-as-new-tram-routes-open.aspx. Retrieved 25 August 2015. 
  21. ↑ "Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2 opens". Railway Gazette (DVV Media UK Ltd). 25 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150910200306/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/nottingham-express-transit-phase-2-opens.html. Retrieved 25 August 2015. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 "Extending your Tram Service". Nottingham Express Transit. Archived from the original on 7 August 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150807090648/http://www.thetram.net/Userfiles/PDFs/ExtendIng%20your%20tram%20network_AMENDED%20copy%20text.pdf. Retrieved 5 August 2015. 
  23. ↑ Walker, Tracy (25 August 2015). "Nottingham tram: Cheers as first service leaves Toton Lane". Nottingham Post (Local World Limited). Archived from the original on 21 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150921143526/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Cheers-tram-leaves-Toton-Lane/story-27671487-detail/story.html. 
  24. ↑ Skelsey, Geoffrey. Nottingham's growing tramway - Building on NET's success. p. 74. 
  25. ↑ Skelsey, Geoffrey. Nottingham's growing tramway - Building on NET's success. pp. 69. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Nottingham Express Transit : Trams". thetrams.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150922102421/http://www.thetrams.co.uk/net/trams/. Retrieved 22 September 2015. 
  27. ↑ "First look at new trams for Nottingham". Nottingham Evening Post (Local World Limited). 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. http://web.archive.org/web/20141218151328/http://www.nottinghampost.com/look-new-trams-Nottingham/story-19787191-detail/story.html. Retrieved 18 December 2014. 
  28. ↑ "Alstom unveils the UK’s first Citadis tram in Nottingham". Alstom. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. http://web.archive.org/web/20150922103329/http://www.alstom.com/press-centre/2013/9/alstom-unveils-the-uks-first-citadis-tram-in-nottingham/. Retrieved 22 September 2015. 

Bibliography

  • Skelsey, Geoffrey (2015). Nottingham's growing tramway - Building on NET's success. LRTA. ISBN 978-0-948106-49-1. 
  • Nottingham Express Transit Bringing Nottingham Together. Tramways & Urban Transit in association with Tramlink Nottingham and Nottingham City Council.  Special publication distributed with October 2015 edition of Tramways & Urban Transit magazine

Outside links

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