Its been six months since the Greater Nottingham Light Rail Transit Authority last met and in that time there seem to have been plenty of collisions between trams and other road vehicles, majorly impacting the ability of the network to operate the normal timetable. This led to a temporary timetable running on the network with a lower frequency (now withdrawn) and the latest operational report gives more details of the collisions which have necessitated this.
Its been well-publicised how the tram network has been affected by damage to trams with three trams having been out of service with significant damage at times during the period under review and requiring major repairs.
This includes 232 (which has just returned to service after two years out following a derailment at Bulwell), 207 (which collided with a vehicle near the Royal Centre on 16th February 2025 and has now been sent to Derby for repairs) and most recently 229 (which was hit a vehicle and derailed at Ruddington Lane and now requires extensive repairs). Combined with ongoing maintenance, faults, and vandalism, NET have struggled at times to provide enough trams to run the full service (32 of the 37 tram fleet are needed for a normal weekday timetable).
As well as these high-profile incidents leading to trams being unavailable there have been several other notable incidents. This includes 225 being hit by a car on University Boulevard on 7th January 2025 causing it to derail and 216 being hit by a car at the NG2 junction in April 2025.
The report also confirms that all 15 Incentro trams have now been fitted with safety devices which monitor driver vigilance. This device is designed to stop the tram if the driver becomes incapacitated or distracted. The 22 Citadis trams are already fitted with these devices.
The meeting also discussed correspondence from residents in Noel Street (by the tramway junction) who have submitted complaints about the noise from the trams. They have claimed the noise is “ruining their lives” and have asked for practical steps to be introduced to reduce the impact of tram operations on their daily lives.
In response Nottingham Trams Limited have already said they have reduced the speed to 10 kmh at this location and that it can not be practically reduced any further. They also continue to monitor the noise to check it has not increased significantly. Regular railgrinding also takes place to mitigate the noise. It is also planned that the track here will be relaid in 2026.