A 17.5km extension to the light rail network in the central-English city of Nottingham has opened, with new rolling stock and 100 new driver jobs now online.
Stage one of Nottingham Express Transit (NET) was opened in March 2004. Built by construction firm Carillion, the 14km system was initially supplied with 15 Bombardier Incentro trams.
Stage two was due to open in December 2014, but was delayed by utilities works issues.
The addition of the new section, which more than doubles the length of the full NET system, has been supported with the addition of 22 new Alstom Citadis trams.
The first trip was taken on the new section at 6.02am on August 25, local time – just after 3pm, August 25 AEST.
Annnndd we're off!!! Our 6:02 From Clifton South #NETLaunch #tramtime pic.twitter.com/6b072snYbi
— NET Nottingham Tram (@NETTram) August 25, 2015
“This is a really great day for Nottingham,” Nottingham City Councillor Jane Urquhart said.
“It marks the dawn of a new era when NET becomes a true network and, with trams running from every seven minutes, it is all set to provide easier access to key locations right across the city.”
The metropolitan Nottingham area has a population of roughly 1.5 million people.
“The tram provides the backbone to the city’s integrated transport network, underpinning all the efforts to reduce congestion, improve the environment and make Nottingham an even better place to live, work or visit,” Urquhart said.
Alongside the construction of 17.5km of new lines, the project has also seen the creation of more than 2000 free spaces at new park and ride sites, a new tram and bus interchange and a stop at the redeveloped Nottingham Station.
NET general manager Paul Robinson said ahead of the opening: “We’re champing at the bit to get the new services under way. We’ve created over 100 new jobs, trained new drivers and expanded our Depot ready for start of passenger services and our team is raring to go.”
NET marketing manager Jamie Swift apologised for disruptions during construction.
“We know the construction process has caused inconvenience and disruption for some communities but we hope they will soon start to see that it has been worthwhile,” Swift said.
“As work has progressed on the new lines, the tram fleet has been boosted by the arrival of the new Citadis trams, enabling NET to increase service frequencies.
“We carried over eight million passengers last year and we expect this to more than double with the opening of the new lines that will serve key locations such as the Queen’s Medical Centre and ng2 Business Park.”
NET has offered customers a special discounted ticket to celebrate the launch of the expanded network.