Performance figures of Nottingham Express Transit tend to only be released in quarterly bursts to coincide with the next meeting of the Greater Nottingham Light Rail Transit Advisory Committee and so it is again with the latest statistics included in a report to be noted at the next meeting this month. Covering the period from the start of November 2021 to the end of January 2022 the stats show that there has been a slight fall in both reliability and punctuality.
In the last report reliability was at 94.4% and punctuality at 93.3% but the latest period shows that these figures have dipped to 92.3% and 90.4%. Explanations for this fall include staff shortages which eventually led to a reduced service operating although initially saw ad-hoc cancellations, strike action in November over a pay dispute and a partial closure of the Toton Lane line in late November to allow for repairs to a damaged sewer pipe. Minor track repairs were also required at Butlers Hill on 25th January which saw all trams running through the southbound platform whilst on 31st January there was a large fire at a scrapyard in Dunkirk which saw traffic congestion with the trams caught up in this.
Elsewhere on NET, the upgrade of the ticket machines has now been completed at all stops. This has seen new machines installed which feature a larger and easier to read information screen. It also allows for contactless payments and allows passengers to buy adult Robin Hood Pay as you Go cards from selected machines.
NET have also been working alongside police in the Clifton area to tackle a slight increase in reports of anti-social behaviour in the area. There was a planned policing operation during the evening of 17th January to provide reassurance to passengers; two arrests were made during this operation. More intervention work is taking place with NET’s support by the Pythian Club, a youth organisation who aim to channel young people away from anti-social behaviour into more productive outcomes.