On 9th March 2004 Nottingham Express Transit welcomed its first passengers as services began between Station Street and Hucknall/Phoenix Park. Now 20 years on and as part of the now expanded network’s 20th birthday celebrations they have launched a “20 acts of kindness” campaign which will treat tram users to a whole year of surprises and treats.
This was kick-started by treating anyone who shared the birthday date of 9th March to a special birthday gift and group photo. This included David Nicholson-Cole who not only shares his birthday with the system but was one of the trams first ever passengers and has used for them for his travel since they were first launched. He was joined by Fouad Al-Dairi, a retired doctor and regular tram user who used to work at the QMC.
And for those who weren’t able to attend, NET is offering the first 20 people who share its birthday date a chance to bag some goodies. Anyone who does share the birthday just needs to email tramlink@cartwrightcommunications.co.uk with proof of their birthday. This must be done by 1700 on Friday 22nd March and is only available to the first 20 people.
Over the next 12 months there will be more giveaways, gifts, charity donations and more alongside a silent auction. The auction will see members of the public invited to bid on one of give limited edition goody bags, with all proceeds going to NET’s charity of the year – Nottingham Central Women’s Aid.
Head of Marketing at NET, Alison Sweeney, said: “NET has been proud to serve the people of Nottingham since 2004 where over the past two decades we’ve helped to connect family and friends across the city and beyond. Through a consistent offering of sustainable, affordable and convenient travel, the network has become an integral part of Nottingham life and the city’s infrastructure.
“As we celebrate this very special milestone, we want to thank all those who have supported NET over the years, whether you use the tram every day, monthly or for special occasions. And, we’re excited to do that through our 20 acts of kindness campaign. It was great to meet people from across the city who share our birthday as they joined us to help commemorate our anniversary. However, we’ve got more exciting treats to come. Keep your eyes peeled for even more surprises over the coming months.
“Many may well remember when NET launched back in 2004, and since then we’ve worked hard to ensure the network continues to be the very best it can be. This has included a range of initiatives and improvements across the network, including more convenient ways for passengers to travel and the introduction of more ticket options.
“Looking ahead to the coming years, we look forward to building on our successes to date by introducing even more improvements and continuing to provide our customers with exceptionally high levels of customer service and care.”