YES IN MY BACKYARD
A letter published in the Nottingham Evening Post on 02 January says it all about living next to trams. A long-term resident of St. Austell Drive, Wilford, recalls life next to the Great Central main line when it thrived with steam locomotion.
TRAM TIMETABLES FOR LINE ONE
NET have released the timetable for Line One, which can be viewed by clicking here.
.TRAM FARES REVEALED
NET have revealed the tram fares for Line One. click here.
.NET RESPONSES TO CW CONSULTATIONS
NET have sent out standard letters to all those people and groups who responded to the public consultations in September, October and November of last year on the latest CW plans. For the Clifton section, click here . For the Wilford and Compton Acres section, click here . For the Meadows section, click here .
HURRY UP WITH PHASE TWO, PLEASE
Geoff and Jenny Drinkwater of Gwenbrook Avenue, Chilwell, make a special plea in today's Evening Post for NET and the councils to move along with Phase II without further delay, to minimise the purgatory of planning blight. Their letter to the newspaper can be seen by clicking here.
LINE ONE OPENING DATE ANNOUNCED
The opening date for Line One was announced today as Tuesday 09 March 2004 . For the Evening Post article, click here .
LINE ONE OPENING CELEBRATION
Today in the Old Market Square, Transport Minister Alistair Darling ceremonially opened Line One of NET. He also attended a public meeting in Beeston for about one hour. The public service will start tomorrow, Tuesday 9th March 2004. For further information see http://www.thetram.net
LINE ONE PUBLIC SERVICE STARTS
The first tram started at Phoenix Park at 0558 with about 100 passengers. Patronage was quite high on the trams throughout the first day.For a personal account of the day's events, click here
A collection of photos of the opening of Line One is available on http://nettrams.net and also on http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dodonet/stephen/NET/
MORE TRAM ROUTES AFTER PHASE II?
City Council Leader Jon Collins favours tram routes to Arnold and West Bridgford after the Phase II routes themselves are built.
For more information click here
CW REVISED PLAN
The City Council will meet on Tuesday 20 April to consider the latest plan for CW, revised following the public consultation exercise last autumn.
For more information click here
LINE ONE TRAFFIC - FIRST MONTH
Traffic on Line One is proceeding quite well, even allowing for a novelty factor. Conductors have had some problems moving around the tramcars fast enough to collect fares. During busy periods, not purely confined to the commuting peaks or Saturday shopping times, conductors have taken fares on city centre tram stop platforms, and extra trams have been put on. NET are due to increase service frequencies, at least to Bulwell, on a permanent basis later this summer.
For more information click here
CW REVISED PLAN REPORT
The report prepared by NET for the Executive Board of the City Council is now available on the City Council website. For a shortcut, click here
COUNCILS WILL HAVE ALL THE FACTS ABOUT THE TRAM LINE
Pat Armstrong, team leader with NET for Phase II, writes to the Evening Post to clarify a few points about public consultations. click here to see the letter.
TRAM FARES WELL IN NEW STUDY
So says an article in the Evening Post today, reviewing a report prepared by the National Audit Office click here for more information. The report makes numerous constructive criticims of existing British tram systems, looks at foreign experience, and makes some recommendations for the UK to follow. This includes the continued possibility of converting some existing heavy rail lines to tram operation, since "land purchase or utility diversions are less complex or non-existent". This appears even more pertinent to restoring disused rail lines to tram use, as at Wilford. In particular, the NAO report praises NET Line One for its park and ride, and integration with buses for tickets, timetables and publicity.
TRAMS REPORT IS GOOD NEWS FOR NOTTINGHAM
So claims a letter in the Evening Post written by Pat Armstrong, the NET team leader responsible for the Phase II tram extensions, giving another review of the report prepared by the National Audit Office. He says Nottingham can take comfort from the report, since many of its recommendations on tram routeing and operational improvements are incorporated into the Nottingham system - park and ride, integration with other modes, through ticketing, and off-street running prioritised. The restoration of the disused Wilford embankment to the use for which it was built conforms to government planning guidelines. Finally, Mr. Armstrong emphasises the mitigation measures for wildlife and recreation along the CW route, including the new woodland site south of Silverdale.
NET AGREES TO EXTRA TRAM STOP FOR CHILWELL
The group supporting the Beeston-Chilwell route, BACIT, have convinced NET of the merits of an extra tram stop for Chilwell at CATOR LANE, which will serve an OAP home (Greenwood Court) nearby, amongst many other local residents. Some wheelchair-bound elderly residents at Greenwood Court praise Line One for being wheelchair-friendly. BACIT Chair Steve Barber says his group identified 700 local residents from a survey who would benefit from the extra tram stop. The tram will make a big improvement on journey times to the city centre. click here for more information on the BACIT website.
NO CONSULTANTS??
From an exchange of correspondence in the Evening Post, it appears ENT, the group opposing the CW tram, is unable to afford to employ professional consultants as advocates at the future Public Inquiry.
ON TRACK FOR TRAM ROUTES
The latest plan for the proposed Chilwell route has been approved by the City Council, following the end of the recent public consultations there. For the article in the Evening Post click here
DIFFERING VIEWS ON WILFORD EMBANKMENT WILDLIFE
Two letters to the Evening Post express widely diverging opinions on the value of wildlife on Wilford embankment. click here to see copies.
TRAMCARS ARE NAMED
All fifteen tramcars in the current fleet have been named after famous Notts people, past and living. click here to see the Nottingham Evening Post article.
ANOTHER DELAY
With regret, another delay for Phase II. This is because of the Government spending review, meaning the final plans for the two proposed routes will go before the City and County Councils in September/October this year, not the end of this month as originally envisaged. click here to see the Nottingham Evening Post article.
LETTERS TO EVENING POST ON TRAMS
The Chair of CW YES! answers his critics on the tram route, and other writers also comment. click here to see the letters.
REDEVELOPMENT OF NOTTINGHAM STATION
£1 million is to be spent redeveloping Nottingham Midland railway station. This will include a new viaduct for the Phase II tram extensions, on the alignment of the former Great Central girder bridge over tha station. No physical connection ever existed between the two railways, and likewise nor will any between the tram and heavy rail. The station will have two tram stop interchanges - the current station street stop and a future Queens Road stop. click here to see one Evening Post article, and here to see the other.
BIG BROTHER WATCHES FOR CRIME
In a greater effort to combat crime or suspicious activity on the tramcars, NET are to install CCRV. This complements 80 cameras already in use at the 23 tram stops. click here to see the Nottingham Evening Post article.
TRAM ADVERT CONTROVERSY
About a month after Line One opened for public service, the Evening Post published a series of adverts for NET. One of them said "Chill out, Trev, that's two million fewer cars on the road". The ENT group protested to the Advertising Standards Authority that the wording was misleading, since it sounded like a statement of fact, rather than a forecast after the first year of operation. The ASA agreed, and NET have withdrawn the advert, but a spokesperson said Line One is still on target to meet the forecast. click here to see the Nottingham Evening Post article on this subject.
LINE ONE TRAFFIC
Line One has been operating for nearly five months. NET answers the critics on traffic Click here for the relevant letter published in the Evening Post.
TRAM LETTER SPECIAL
In today's Evening Post - 11 letters. Click here to see copies of some of the letters.
and again for more. and again for more. and again for more.NEW COMMUNITY FOR HUCKNALL?
Ashfield District Council is considering allowing a large new estate to be built at Hucknall, including 800 dwellings, parkland, and social/community facilities, such as a new primary school, shops, pub, nursery amd a medical centre. The new estate would be within walking distance of Hucknall station and tram stop. This is reported in the Evening Post under "Massive plan for town in country setting " of today's date.
INCREASE IN TRAM SERVICES FOR LINE ONE
In consequence of increased patronage, NET intend to put on extra tram services in September. Frequencies will be increased by about 10%, with the peak frequency matching off peak in morning/afternoons Mondays to Fridays, that is, trams every 12 munites on each branch. The Sunday service will be boosted to trams every 20 minutes on each branch.
The traffic forecast for year one has been revised upwards to 8.2 million journeys.
A simplified 2-tier structure for single fares is also being introduced, with jouneys at £1-10 for adults, apart from travel purely in the city centre where 80p will apply. For all child journeys, a single fare of 70p will be levied.
BEESTON-CHILWELL ROUTE DEBATED
An hour-long debate on Line 3 was organised by BBC Radio Nottingham on the evening of 1st September in Chilwell and broadcast the following morning. A news sketch on BBC East Midlands today was also broadcast on 2nd September.
The audience opposed the route by about 2 to 1, quite the opposite of the NET-NOP opinion poll findings two years ago. On the panel were Coun. John Taylor, Leader of the City Council and Chair of the NET Development Board; Coun. Mick Warner, Leader of the County Council; Dr. Nick Palmer, MP for Broxtowe; Steve Barber, BACIT Chair; and Derek Clack, former Broxtowe Borough Planning Chief, representing anti-route group BCBRA.
Local residents personally affected voiced their concerns and objections. This included some of the residents of Neville Sadler Court, where 16 flats will be demolished (but replaced by 29 new ones); and someone living on Cator Lane, whose garden must be acquired. Coun. Martin Brandon-Bravo, Deputy Chair of the Conservative group on the County Council, and county councillor for West Bridgford West (including Compton Acres) graphically claimed the three tram routes for Nottingham would be inordinately expensive and not good enough value for money.
Couns. Taylor and Warner defended Line One, saying traffic is bouyant. Nick Palmer MP accepted the principle of the route, but had misgivings about property acquisitions/demolitions, especially the NSC OAP flats, and still has sympathy with a Toton alternative route to reach the A52 terminus.
Click here for more information.
THE COST OF TRAM ROUTES
Pat Armstrong of NET answers the critics on Phase II tram route costs in a letter to the Evening Post. The £300m projected for Phase II includes contingencies and inflation up to 2009, the earliest start date for public service. He also points out that the recommendations for future UK tram routes, as indicated in the recent National Audit Office report, will be pursued with Phase II in Nottingham.
LINE ONE SIX MONTHS OLD
Line One has been in public service for six months. In today's Evening Post Coun. John Taylor is quizzed. Line One has carried four miilion journeys so far, and its success has "confounded the critics" according to Coun. Taylor.
Click here for more information.
AN ANSWER FROM GOVERNMENT, PLEASE
Nick Palmer, MP for Broxtowe, has asked the Department for Transport to give a straight answer on whether government funding for Nottingham Phase II will be given or not, as a matter of urgency. Mick Warner, Leader of the County Council, agrees. Until a funding decision is made, there is continued planning blight for people whose property is affected.
Click here for more information.
TRENTBARTON BUSES LOSE PASSENGERS
Unlike NCT, the TrentBarton bus company is not part of the Arrow consortium running the Nottingham trams, and so is not obliged to co-ordinate its bus services with trams. TB has been playing a "wait and see" game. It now emerges TB has lost passengers on its services between Hucknall and the city centre, on both the express flyer and the local number 45. The bus company is considering changes to these services, and it appears the right way forward is for the buses to act as feeders to Hucknall station.
GOOSE FAIR
Europe's largest travelling fair makes its usual appearance in Nottingham, but this year the trams have catered for some traffic. Bus turnaround has been banished from Mount Hooton Road, and confined to the Mansfield Road end of the forest recreation ground. NET ran trams every six minutes from late afternoon until midnight yesterday, Saturday, the final day of the Fair. This meant all 15 tramcars in the fleet were in service. One was actually stationary in the central track at The Forest trsm stop, acting as a safety barrier for crowds overflowing on the island platform - at times there have been over 400 passengers waiting there for a tram home.
LRTA AGM
The Light Rail Transit Association held its Annual General Meeting in Nottingham this year because of the opening of Line One. Members came from some other European nations, Ireland, and New Zealand. This morning a party of about 30 were given a conducted tour of the two proposed NET routes. The tram experts and enthusiasts visited Wilford embankment and village in particular, walking around these areas.
LINE ONE TRAFFIC
NET (Pat Armstrong) had a letter published in the Evening Post answering the Wilford-Compton Acres critics.
Line One is currently carrying 20,000 plus journeys daily, moving towards targets of 8.5m pa by the end of the first year, and a bit less than 11m by the end of year three. Since the tramline opened, public transport use in the Leen Vally has risen 25%, and park-and-ride use in particular is up by 50%. Joint ticketing is purchased by 40% of tram passengers.
SECURITY GUARDS FOR LINE ONE TRAMS?
NET is considering the employment of secirity guards on late evening services on Line One. A secirity firm has offered a free trial run for a month. A spokesperson for NET said violence or intimidation on trams was not a particular problem at present, and the tramcars are gradually being filled with mini-CCTVs. For more information, Click here
EXTRA LINE ONE TRAMS FOR COMMUTING PEAKS
Extra tram services will be provided next February on Line One in business hours. Trams will run every ten minutes on each branch, to Hucknall or Phoenix Park, giving a five minute headway south of the junction at Highbury Vale.
NET say that currently the trams are overloaded, with some passengers unable to board and thus left stranded at the tram stop, a loss of custom. For more information, Click here
ANOTHER DELAY FOR PHASE II
The funding decision from the Transport Secretary is still awaited, though expected in January. Notts County Council now says its own decision on whether to submit the application for the Transport and Works Act Order must wait until after the county elections in May next year.
The Opinion column of the Evening Post is critical, calling the county council stance "utterly baffling", and points out the continued problem of blight.
More than a few observers have suggested that certain top politicians at County Hall are concerned about losing votes...
In any event, news reports on the issue are available. Click here and also Click here
TRAMS TAKE THE MASSES TO THE SHOPS
According to national property consultants Gerald Eve, Nottingham is the seventh best regional shopping city in the British Isles, and is only second to Manchester for leisure. The consultants consider Line One of the tram is an important contributor.
TWO SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ONE BRIGHT FUTURE
For several years the Becket school has sought a new location, with the entire school on one site, instead of being split as at present. Three years ago a planning application was submitted for a new school at Wilwell cutting south of Wilford, but this has been held up because of a drainage survey at the adjacent nature reserve.
Now the school governers have submitted an application for a site on Wilford Lane next to the embankment, opposite the future tram stop, and close to the proposed housing on the Chateau site. The school will share facilities such as playing fields with the Emmanuel CE school at Coronation Avenue in the village. Both schools will generate traffic for the CW tram route.
For more information, Click here
EAST MIDLANDS RAIL PARKWAY
The proposed new rail parkway station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar is due to open in 2007, costing £17m. A bus link will be provided to the Nottingham East Midlands Airport. Whilst chiefly intended for long distance rail passengers, its use in the opposite direction for Nottingham-bound traffic is limited by a relatively infrequent service. The park-and-ride for the CW tram is more suitably located on the urban fringe, will serve the south Rushcliffe villages like Gotham and East Leake, will have a tram link to Nottingham city centre every ten minutes, and offer cheap fares with no parking charges. The rail facility can do none of those things!
BEESTON PRO AND ANTI TRAM GROUPS MEET TRANSPORT MINISTER
BACIT and the anti-route groups from Beeston/Chilwell recently met Transport Minister Charlotte Atkins in London, all to lobby their case, to try and speed up a decision on government funding for Phase II.