The two special tram trips which took place on the two new Nottingham Express Transit lines have been hailed as a success as the extensive testing period continues in the build up to the opening of Phase Two. The journeys took place on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th August with community stalwarts, civic leaders and competition winners all on board to get a special preview of the new lines.
The first of the trips left the Toton Lane Park and Ride terminus on the Beeston and Chilwell line on Tuesday 11th August and continued to pick special passengers up as it made its way along the line to the new Nottingham Railway Station stop. The tram then continued on to Wilkinson Street Depot where a special celebration was held before the participants could make their way back on NET to wherever they liked!
Then on Wednesday 12th August it was the turn of the Clifton line’s preview service with a tram departing from Clifton South, again picking up passengers as it made its way to the Station and then Wilkinson Street for another celebration for those lucky participants.
Hollie Rowson-Dilks, Marketing and Events Coordinator, said: “Over 200 people joined us for what were very memorable occasions. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive and people seemed to really enjoy themselves and the experience. They were historic trips and ones we’re delighted they were so successful. It was a great way of introducing the trams to the new communities we’ll soon be serving.”
The extensive testing continues on the new lines and as this progresses we are getting closer to an opening date. No news has yet been forthcoming when this will be but Nottingham Express Transit have said as soon as they are able to they will be opening the lines. Despite what you may read elsewhere since the 14th December date was postponed no further dates have ever officially been announced with just a vague “summer” announced. And considering summer still has over a month to go there haven’t actually been any official further delays to the project. As soon as an official date is announced we will reveal it here.
* Elsewhere on Nottingham Express Transit this week there have been complaints from residents along the new routes who claim their properties will become possibly the only houses in the world along a tram route that will lose value. They are now demanding compensation although even if it turns out to be true they won’t be able to get any money within the first year of the route opening. More complaints have also come from residents who want more safety features installed along the lines where they pass schools. Maybe we should also be putting barriers alongside all roads in the country at the same time?
Sadly, we live in a compensation culture now with ‘no win, no fee’ lawyers homing in on anything new that troublemakers and publicity-seekers can complain about, if they think money can be made from it. Fears of innovation and Luddite sentiments against almost anything can easily be used to stir up the necessary media publicity. Manchester United Football Club’s objection to the new Trafford Centre extension comes into this category.
How will their properties lose value when trams have attracted business and value wherever new lines have opened? I wonder if they tried to claim for risk and loss of value from buses or HGVs passing their door. As for passing schools, if they are that bothered about safety they could try educating their children about crossing roads and tram lines safely, then there wouldn’t be a problem.
would you live next to a tram line. l know i wouldn’t
I’m pretty sure you’re asking that question in the wrong place…
One of the reasons the UK has such an poor public transport and road infrastructure is the NIMBY culture. Nottingham (where I live) is far too parochial, and when the city actually does something that will help develop the city, all you hear in the local media is whinge, whine, moan, what about the value of my house…etc etc.
These people are lucky they don’t live in France, where is a public project needs doing for the greater good, it gets done!
I do
The shadow service was in full swing Monday 17th August and here are some shots of the Queen’s Medical Centre area
https://youtu.be/85oqO9zNIqc
A look at the entrance and exit from Gregory Street
https://youtu.be/UFv9EncPzQY
Properties lose their values when a thundering great tram goes past their front door a few feet away, privacy and peace are lost and values go DOWN. HGV’s are not able to do this. To say property values have increased due to increased business is clearly bonkers!!!!!!!!
In Strasbourg, France (where my daughter lives), propoerty prices and rental costs increase along all the tram lines due to the ease of which the city can be acessed. Those areas without trams (and even with good bus links) have seen decreased property prices. But as usual, as mentioned in a comment above, we in Britain seem to be great at finding the negatives…..
You cannot be anyhing other than negative with trams thundering past your property – your comment appears generalistic as well as patronising. I wonder how you would feel living adjacent to the the track at Middle St in Beeston Notts, but you don’t do you?
Hmm. Nigel, Ken Walker, you are welcome to trade houses with me if you like looking at trams. I’m not sure how the constantly buzzing 3m high transformer unit to the rear of several properties, is likely to add any value to these properties, unless perhaps there is a peculiar subset of light rail transformer enthusiasts?
A little too much flange squeal in some of Martin’s videos. Noise = wear and I hope that we do not see the early rail replacement as in Sheffield. As for environmental acceptability, I am amazed at Ken McHugh’s views. The tram is non-polluting and serving the local area, something highly unlikely to be true of the HGV.
Which particular comment are you amazed at? Every time one thunders past (flange squeal included) should I chant, “trams are good for me don’t worry about your health and that your major asset has fallen in value – be happy”
But surely you can see that a website for tram enthusiasts is not the best place to find people who would hate to live near a tramway!?
How much testing/training etc does this new extension need?? Its already 8 months late and the new trams to operate it have long-since been delivered.
Not much longer Danny! Just a little bit more patience and they will be running. It is best to make sure before opening to the public its not just a case of the lines being built and then opening! Article coming later with more…
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