No sooner had we featured images of the rail replacement works on Nottingham Express Transit then it was announced that after excellent progress the full line will be able to reopen some five days earlier than planned. It was originally anticipated services would resume on Sunday 19th July but a full Sunday service will now be operating as from Tuesday 14th July.
Mike Mabey, NET Head of Operations, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to get tram services running on the whole network again nearly a week ahead of schedule. Carrying this work out while restrictions were in place has helped to minimise disruption, and we were able to make adjustments and refinements through daily reviews to bring completion forward, while still observing rules for worksites operating under Covid-19 restrictions. We have worked very closely with our contractors VolkerRail and Nottingham City Council’s highways team to minimise the impact of Covid-19 restrictions. Our engineers have worked extremely hard, day and night, to deliver another successful track replacement programme. The sunny spells last month also gave us the best chance to move the works forward. This work was vital maintenance for a network that’s been operating for 16 years, so we can continue to operate safely, reliably and offer our passengers a comfortable journey. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience while the work was carried out.”
Rail originally put in place for the opening of Nottingham Express Transit between the Royal Centre and Old Market Square stops has been replaced during this period of closure. The work got underway from 20th June with VolkerRail having worked closely with the Nottingham City Council’s highways team to minimise the impact whilst observing Government rules around Covid-19.