In the second of our new series of brief introductions to the tramway of the British Isles we take a look at the new Phase Two extensions of Nottingham Express Transit with the new routes, stops, timetable and trams all looked at.
The background
Construction of Phase Two started in 2012 although the plans had first been discussed as long ago as 2003 – before Phase One had even opened! The construction period suffered from delays – as major construction projects such as this often do – and the originally announced launch date of 14th December 2014 was missed with tracklaying not actually been finished until earlier in the same month. After eight more months of finishing works, testing and commissioning it was finally announced on 24th August that services would be commencing the following day and so it was on Tuesday 25th August 2015 that finally the residents of Clifton, Chilwell and places in between would be able to enjoy a ride.
The routes
Phase Two consists of two routes: the Chilwell line and the Clifton line. Whereas the vast majority of Phase One to Hucknall and Phoenix Park is on reserved track Phase Two has a different feel with a lot of on street running plus some very impressive structures including two significant bridges.
The extensions actually start at Nottingham Station where NET now travels over the top of the railway station with the first new stop constructed on the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge (replacing the former terminus at Station Street). Both lines continue on a combined section for a short distance before they go their own separate ways.
The Chilwell line then serves stops at Meadows Way West, NG2, Gregory Street, Queens Medical Centre (the only hospital in the UK to have its own tramstop), University of Nottingham, University Boulevard, Middle Street, Beeston Town Centre, Chilwell Road, High Road – Central College, Cator Lane, Bramcote Lane, Eskdale Drive, Inham Road and the terminus at Toton Lane which also has a large park and ride site.
The Clifton line has stops at Queens Walk, Meadows Embankment, Wilford Village, Wilford Lane, Compton Acres, Ruddington Lane, Southchurch Drive, Rivergreen, Clifton Centre, Holy Trinity, Summerwood Lane and the terminus at Clifton South, which again has a large park and ride site.
The timetable
Both of the new routes filter into the original Nottingham Express Transit lines with services from Toton Lane all running through to Hucknall and those from Clifton South to Phoenix Park. There are a few services which only run part of the route – mainly in the morning and evenings – but in the main all services run from one end to the other.
Monday to Saturday service frequencies are:
0700 to 2100
David Lane to City Centre (the common section where both routes operate) – every 3-5 minutes
Hucknall/Phoenix Park/Toton Lane/Clifton South to City Centre – every 7-10 minutes
0600 to 0700 and 2100 to 0000
David Lane to City Centre – every 7-8 minutes
Hucknall/Phoenix Park/Toton Lane/Clifton South to City Centre – every 15 minutes
First service trams start to leave depot at 0510 with final arrivals back at Wilkinson Street at 0150
Sunday service frequencies are:
0900 to 1900
David Lane to City Centre – every 5 minutes
Hucknall/Phoenix Park/Toton Lane/Clifton South to City Centre – every 10 minutes
0600-0900 and 1900 to 2300
David Lane to City Centre – every 7-8 minutes
Hucknall/Phoenix Park/Toton Lane/Clifton South to City Centre – every 15 minutes
First service trams start to leave depot at 0510 with final arrivals back at 0050
The full timetable can be downloaded at http://www.thetram.net/timetable-and-frequency-guide.aspx.
The Trams
22 new Alstom Citadis 302 trams were ordered for the Phase Two extensions. They were all built in Barcelona with the first (216) delivered in September 2013 and the last (237) arriving in November 2014. The first few entered service at the end of July 2014 with the remainder gradually entering service as the build-up continued to the opening of the extensions. They will work alongside the original Bombardier Incentro trams and there are no plans for these trams to be withdrawn.
Tickets
A new fare structure was introduced on Nottingham Express Transit shortly before Phase Two opened to the public. Basic fares are:
Adult Single – £2.20
Adult Day Return – £3.50 (not valid for travel from/to Hucknall, Phoenix Park, Toton Lane or Clifton South)
Adult Day Pass – £4.00
Adult 7 Day Pass – £17.00
Child fares are also available which are normally just over 50% of the adult fare. Mango Card holders can also get cheaper fares. Only Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council concessionary card holders are entitled to free travel on the trams but some time restrictions exist.
Full details of the fares available can be found at http://www.thetram.net/tickets.aspx.
Your remark that the vast majority of the original routes is on reserved track needs qualification I feel. While that may be strictly true mileage-wise, the feel is of a lengthy journey through the city centre on street track, shorter mileage though it be.
I might also add that the majority of the Clifton route is reserved-track, though the section from the junction with the Toton route to just after Wilford Village stop is paved, not ballasted.