There has major disruption to services on the Nottingham Express Transit line to Toton Lane on Thursday 19th February after a bus and tram collided on Inham Road, with the tram derailed and the road closed to allow a rescue and repair operation to take place.
The collision happened just after 0900 and involved Citadis 228 and a Nottingham City Transport bus running on route 35. At this location the tram crosses Inham Road having left the segregated stop of the same name and it is signalled for both trams and road traffic. An investigation is likely to find out the reasons for the collision.
A number of walking wounded were treated at the scene, but there were no reports of anyone requiring hospital treatment.
The force of the collision led to one end of 228 coming off the rails. There was also significant damage to the tram, including broken windows and damaged panelling. The bus didn’t get away with things either with pictures at the scene showing a smashed windscreen and other significant damage.
For much of the day the accident meant that trams from Hucknall were being turned short at Bramcote Lane. A replacement bus service was then running from the Sandy Court bus stop on Bramcote Lane to Toton Lane, although passengers were advised if possible to use Clifton South Park and Ride instead to take the tram into the city.
After 1900, the service changed again with trams turning at Beeston Centre. This was to allow the overhead to be isolated for the start of the rescue operation of the tram and return it to depot for full assessment. Whether it is towed back or removed from the scene by lorry doesn’t seem to have been decided yet.
Ticket acceptance was put in place with the number 36 bus following 1900, either from Nottingham City Centre or Beeston Centre.
At this stage its not know whether full services will be able to resume from the start of service on Friday 20th February.
In the meantime for a tramway which has suffered in recent years with tram shortages it does appear it will have another one of the long-term absence list adding to their issues.