Editing Nottingham Express Transit (section)

==History==

===Planning and construction of phase one===
Nottingham and the surrounding urban area is the UK's seventh largest and third fastest-growing urban area.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Traditionally, Nottingham's economy was to a large extent based on [[manufacturing]] and [[coal mining]], and in the second half of the 20th century the area was affected by the decline in these industries. High population density, a road system constrained by crossings of the [[River Trent]], and a concentration of retail and entertainment outlets in the city centre led to road congestion and high bus usage. In the late 1980s, [[Nottingham City Council]] and [[Nottinghamshire County Council]] identified the possibility of using a modern tramway as a means of stimulating [[urban renewal]], as well as tackling road congestion.<ref name=rtpn>{{cite web |url = http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/nottingham/ |title = Nottingham Express Transit, United Kingdom |work = railway-technology.com |publisher = Kable Intelligence Limited |access-date = 5 August 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150805125536/http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/nottingham/ |archive-date = 5 August 2015 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref>

Plans began from around 1990, by Nottingham Development Enterprise, under Malcolm Reece. Studies in [[Grenoble]] in France had shown that up to 20% of commuters switched from their car. Possible routes were developed by Bob McKittrick of [[Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick]]. The first route was to Hucknall, but would go through the [[Victoria Centre]] tunnel. Other routes would follow the railway to [[Carlton, Nottinghamshire|Carlton]] and the railway to Beeston; the consulting engineers' advice was to follow along railway routes, where possible.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} By 1991, the route under the Victoria Centre was dropped, to follow the present route. It would be twenty five years before the other routes would be built.

The scheme was known as the Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transport – GNLRT.<ref>{{cite news |publisher = Nottingham Evening Post |date = 9 March 1990 |page = 6}}</ref> The [[List of Acts of the 2nd Session of the 51st Parliament of the United Kingdom|Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transport Act 1994]] received Royal Assent on 21 July 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1994/15/enacted |title = Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Act 1994 |website = legislation.gov.uk |date = 1994 |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher = Nottingham Evening Post |date = 21 July 1994 |page = 1 |language = en-gb}}</ref> At that point, the scheme required £68m of government funding.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

During December 1998, [[Minister of State for Transport]] [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]] confirmed the availability of £167{{nbsp}}million funding for a new tram system, to be known as Nottingham Express Transit, to run between Nottingham and [[Hucknall]].<ref name=nphnt>{{cite news |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/history-Nottingham-tram/story-27668114-detail/story.html |title = The history of the Nottingham tram |first = Tracy |last = Walker |work = Nottingham Post |publisher = Local World Limited |date = 25 August 2015 |access-date = 27 August 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921122712/http://www.nottinghampost.com/history-Nottingham-tram/story-27668114-detail/story.html |archive-date = 21 September 2015 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.egi.co.uk/news/government-commits-167m-to-nottingham-tram-scheme/ |title = Government commits £167m to Nottingham tram scheme |publisher = Relex Group |date = 4 December 1998 |language = en-gb}}</ref>

In March 2000, the joint promoters, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, awarded a 30-year [[Private Finance Initiative]] (PFI) concession to the Arrow Light Rail Ltd consortium, with responsibility for the design, funding, building, operation and maintenance of the line. The consortium was made up of [[Adtranz]] (later subsumed into [[Bombardier Transportation]]), who were responsible for the trams, [[Carillion]], who were responsible for the infrastructure, [[Transdev]] and [[Nottingham City Transport]] (NCT).<ref name=rtpn/><ref name=tutbnt6>{{cite book |title = Nottingham Express Transit Bringing Nottingham Together |publisher = Tramways & Urban Transit in association with Tramlink Nottingham and Nottingham City Council |language = en-gb}}</ref>

As originally built, the system was {{convert|14|km|mi|order =flip}} long and served 23 [[tram stop]]s. The construction cost a total of £200{{nbsp}}million, a sum equivalent to {{nowrap|£{{Formatprice|{{Inflation|UK|200000000|2004|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-4}}}}}} at {{inflation-year|UK}} prices.{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}<ref name=tutbnt6/>

===Opening of phase one===
Nottingham Express Transit began operation in March 2004, with a line operating north from a terminal at Station Street, just to the north of [[Nottingham station|Nottingham railway station]], through the city centre, branching to serve twin termini at [[Hucknall station|Hucknall]] and [[Phoenix Park tram stop|Phoenix Park]]. Once the line was complete, operation was sub-contracted by Arrow Light Rail to the Nottingham Tram Consortium (NTC), an equal partnership between [[Transdev]] and [[Nottingham City Transport]].<ref name=rtpn/>

The new line proved successful, leading to an increase of public transport use for the Nottingham urban area of 8% in the five years to 2008, together with a less than 1% growth in road traffic, compared to the national average of around 4%.<ref name=rtpn/> The line itself exceeded expectations, with 8.4{{nbsp}}million journeys in 2004–2005 and 9.7{{nbsp}}million in 2005–2006, against targets of 8{{nbsp}}million and 9{{nbsp}}million respectively. By 2007–8, ridership had reached 10.2{{nbsp}}million journeys.<ref name=ngt93>{{cite book |title = Nottingham's growing tramway – Building on NET's success |first = Geoffrey |last = Skelsey |page = 93 |language = en-gb}}</ref> This performance bolstered the case for the construction of new lines.

On 27 July 2009, the [[GMB (trade union)|GMB]] [[trade union]] held a [[Industrial action|strike]] in protest at a proposed pay cut of 0.6% offered by Nottingham Tram Consortium. A maximum of five trams out of a normal service of 13 ran from 06:00 until 18:00 on the Hucknall route, with replacement buses running a shuttle from Phoenix Park.<ref>{{cite news |title = Tram works carried out planned strike action yesterday after talks failed |author = This is Nottingham |work = Nottingham Evening Post |publisher = Local World Limited |date = 28 July 2009 |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/Tram-strike-causes-delays-queues/story-12254195-detail/story.html |access-date = 28 July 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921154526/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Tram-strike-causes-delays-queues/story-12254195-detail/story.html |archive-date = 21 September 2015 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://socialistworker.co.uk/news/nottingham-tram-workers-strike-over-pay/ |title = Nottingham tram workers strike over pay |website = socialistworker.co.uk |first = John |last = Shemeld |date = 28 July 2009 |language = en-gb}}</ref>

===Planning and construction of phase two===
[[File:Ngtrambridge.jpg|thumb|Supports for new tram bridge; the bridge awaiting sliding into position on 26 January 2013.]]
In January 2003, even before the first phase had opened, the two councils had decided to start consultation on a second phase to serve the urban areas south and west, with routes to [[Clifton, Nottingham|Clifton]] via [[Wilford]], and to [[Chilwell]] via [[Beeston, Nottinghamshire|Beeston]].<ref name=rtpn/><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=17746&p=0 |title = Network Update |date = January 2003 |publisher = Nottingham City Council |access-date = 5 August 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150805141335/http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=17746&p=0 |archive-date = 5 August 2015 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all |language = en-gb}}</ref>

Approval for phase two was given on 25 October 2006 with the British Government agreeing to provide up to £437{{nbsp}}million in [[Private Finance Initiative]] (PFI) credits. The local councils will also provide up to £141{{nbsp}}million in PFI credits. The two local councils (Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City Councils) voted on 22 February 2007 and 3 March 2007 respectively to table an application for a [[Transport and Works Act Order]]. The City and County Councils’ application for the order were available to view from 26 April 2007 to 7 June 2007 when it was submitted to the [[Secretary of State for Transport]] for consideration. A [[public inquiry]] was held in December 2007. The project was given the go-ahead by the government on 30 March 2009.<ref name=rtpn/><ref>{{cite web |last = Nottingham Express Transit |title = The NE(x)T steps for Nottingham Express Transit |date = 27 April 2007 |url = http://www.netphasetwo.com/07/netphasetwo_story.asp?NETworkNEWSId=40 |access-date = 7 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070706201601/http://www.netphasetwo.com/07/netphasetwo_story.asp?NETworkNEWSId=40 |archive-date = 6 July 2007 |url-status = dead |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last = Nottingham Express Transit |title = Government backs Nottingham's Tram Extensions |date = 30 March 2009 |url = http://www.netphasetwo.com/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110119131621/http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/index.aspx?articleid=7487 |archive-date = 19 January 2011 |url-status = dead |access-date = 30 March 2009 |language = en-gb}}</ref>

Following the local elections in 2009, the county council indicated that it was no longer willing to contribute financially to the project, so Nottingham City Council decided to cover the shortfall and be the sole promoter. The county council confirmed that it would not obstruct the project.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/Tories-promise-impede-tram-extension/story-12235824-detail/story.html |title = Tories promise not to impede tram extension |date = 10 July 2009 |work = Nottingham Post |author = This is Nottingham |publisher = Local World Limited |access-date = 21 September 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921123728/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Tories-promise-impede-tram-extension/story-12235824-detail/story.html |archive-date = 21 September 2015 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all |language = en-gb}}</ref> Funding was approved by the government on 31 July 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/news/story?id=6110 |title = Nottingham tram PFI deal and parking levy approved |work = Transport Briefing |publisher = Acumen Intelligence Ltd. |access-date = 19 September 2015 |language = en-gb}}</ref> Selecting and appointing the contractor was expected to take two years. Building work was expected to begin in 2011, in two phases, with trams running from 2014. The scheme survived the [[2010 Spending Review|2010 Comprehensive Spending Review]] ordered by the [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|government]], and on 24 March 2011 the government confirmed that funding had been approved.<ref name=rgi20110406 /><ref name=rgi20101029>{{cite news |title = Comprehensive spending review backs light rail |date = 29 October 2010 |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/comprehensive-spending-review-backs-light-rail.html |work = Railway Gazette |publisher = DVV Media UK Ltd |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120927224726/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/comprehensive-spending-review-backs-light-rail.html |archive-date = 27 September 2012 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref>

[[File:Nottingham-express-transit-tram-golden-spike-ceremony-chilwell-20141127.jpg|thumb|[[Golden spike]] ceremony held on 27 November 2014 to mark the completion of trackwork on the Beeston and Chilwell line<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-11-27/final-trackwork-to-be-completed-on-beeston-tram-line/ |title = Final trackwork to be completed on Beeston tram line |work = ITV News |agency = Associated Press |date = 27 November 2014 |access-date = 27 November 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129124120/http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2014-11-27/final-trackwork-to-be-completed-on-beeston-tram-line/ |archive-date = 29 November 2014 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last = Pritchard |first = Jon |title = Nottingham tram: Final bolt is tightened in Chilwell High Road |date = 28 November 2014 |work = Nottingham Post |publisher = Local World Limited |access-date = 28 November 2014 |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/Light-end-tunnel/story-24819573-detail/story.html |quote = Pictured, from left, are: Paul Harris, programme director for Taylor Woodrow Alstom; Labour councillor Steve Barber; Phil Hewitt, chief executive of Tram Link Nottingham; and Didier Marcillou, executive director of Alstom. |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141202072434/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Light-end-tunnel/story-24819573-detail/story.html |archive-date = 2 December 2014 |url-status = dead |language = en-gb}}</ref>]]
As part of this process, the concession to operate the existing system was terminated. A new concession put out to tender to design and build phase two, to operate and maintain the existing system in the meantime, and to operate and maintain the extended system once completed. Although Arrow Light Rail bid, they lost out to a new consortium known as Tramlink Nottingham Limited, made up of [[Meridiam]] (30 per cent), [[OFI InfraVia]] (20 per cent), [[Alstom Transport]] (12.5 per cent), [[Keolis]] (12.5 per cent), [[Vinci SA|Vinci Investments]] (12.5 per cent), and the [[Wellglade Group]] (12.5 per cent). As with the previous consortium, operation was further sub-contracted to a consortium of Keolis (80%) and Wellglade (20%), with maintenance sub-contracted to Alstom Transport. As a result of Wellglade's ownership of [[Trent Barton]], who operate bus services in the Nottingham area, the new concession was referred to, and approved by, the [[Office of Fair Trading]]. The finalised contract was signed on 15 December 2011.<ref name="oft-merger"/><ref name=rtpn/><ref name=rgi20111215>{{cite news |title = Nottingham tram Phase Two contract signed |date = 15 December 2011 |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/nottingham-tram-phase-two-contract-signed.html |work = Railway Gazette |publisher = DVV Media UK Ltd |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921130937/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/nottingham-tram-phase-two-contract-signed.html |archive-date = 21 September 2015 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref>

The severing of the link between NET and Nottingham City Transport, which affected joint ticketing arrangements, may have contributed to a fall in passenger numbers on phase one. This started in 2008 with the [[Great Recession|recession of that year]], reducing the total number of journeys to a minimum 7.4{{nbsp}}million by 2013. By 2014–15, passenger numbers had rebounded to 8.1{{nbsp}}million.<ref name=ngt93/>

Construction of phase two started in 2012. There were construction delays and by the end of 2014 it was at least six months behind schedule. There were complaints from residents affected by works and traders whose businesses have been damaged by the late running construction. Track laying was completed on 11 December 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.tramlinknottingham.co.uk/net-phase-2/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120202113006/http://www.tramlinknottingham.co.uk/net-phase-2/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2 February 2012 |title = Background to the NET Phase Two Project |publisher = Tramlink Nottingham |access-date = 5 August 2015 |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref name="EveningPostDec14">{{cite news |title = Tram contractors will be paid less for delays but struggling traders will not get more compensation |work = Nottingham Evening Post |publisher = Local World Limited |date = 16 December 2014 |access-date = 5 January 2015 |first = Dan |last = Russell |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/Tram-contractors-paid-delays-struggling-traders/story-25717124-detail/story.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150630170141/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Tram-contractors-paid-delays-struggling-traders/story-25717124-detail/story.html |archive-date = 30 June 2015 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.thetram.net/last-piece-of-track-fixed-into-position.aspx#Lastpieceoftrackfixedintoposition |title = Last piece of track fixed into position |publisher = Nottingham Express Transit |access-date = 5 August 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150805145545/http://www.thetram.net/last-piece-of-track-fixed-into-position.aspx |archive-date = 5 August 2015 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref>

===Opening of phase two===
The two new bridges that form a major part of phase two were both officially named in 2014, in advance of their actual use by trams. The bridge across the [[A52 road|Clifton Boulevard (A52)]] near the [[Queen's Medical Centre]] was named the Ningbo Friendship Bridge to acknowledge the links between the city of [[Ningbo]], in [[China]], and the [[University of Nottingham]]. The naming took place on 11 June 2014, and was undertaken by the vice-mayor of Ningbo. The bridge constructed over [[Nottingham railway station]] was officially opened on 17 October 2014 and named the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge to acknowledge the technical support provided by Nottingham's twin city [[Karlsruhe]]. The opening event also unveiled a new tram named in honour of the late Jim Taylor who developed the initial vision for the tram system.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.thetram.net/tram-names.aspx |title = Tram names |publisher = thetrams.net |access-date = 16 June 2018 |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.thetram.net/tram-named-after-city-champion.aspx |title = Tram named after city champion |publisher = thetrams.net |access-date = 16 June 2018 |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/bridge-china/story-21214855-detail/story.html |title = Nottingham's bridge to China: The symbol of our £100m special relationship |first = Richard |last = Baker |work = [[Nottingham Post]] |publisher = Local World Limited |date = 11 June 2015 |access-date = 25 January 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140918031213/http://www.nottinghampost.com/BRIDGE-CHINA/story-21214855-detail/story.html |archive-date = 18 September 2014 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/german-friends-travel-tram-bridge/story-23169907-detail/story.html |title = German friends among first to travel over Nottingham tram bridge |newspaper = Nottingham Evening Post |date = 15 October 2014 |access-date = 22 August 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151014200424/http://www.nottinghampost.com/German-friends-travel-tram-bridge/story-23169907-detail/story.html |archive-date = 14 October 2015 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/man-tram-remembered-nottingham-station/story-23229286-detail/story.html |title = 'Man behind the tram remembered' at Nottingham station |newspaper = Nottingham Evening Post |date = 17 October 2014 |access-date = 22 August 2016 |language = en-gb}} {{dead link|date=October 2018}}</ref>

The first powered test run on a short section of the line took place in the early hours of Friday 22 August 2014, running from Station Street via [[The Meadows, Nottingham|The Meadows]] to Wilford, before returning to Station Street. With the completion of track laying and electrification work in early 2015, testing began in earnest.<ref name=ngt64>{{cite book |title = Nottingham's growing tramway – Building on NET's success |first = Geoffrey |last = Skelsey |page=64 |language = en-gb}}</ref>

The first section of phase two to open to the public was the new tram station above [[Nottingham railway station]], which replaced the Station Street stop as the southern terminus of the line on 27 July 2015. The remainder of phase two finally opened at 06:00 on 25 August 2015, with the route from Toton Lane Park and Ride into Nottingham running the first public service.<ref>{{cite news |title = Nottingham tram: Cheers as first service leaves Toton Lane |date = 25 August 2015 |url = http://www.nottinghampost.com/Cheers-tram-leaves-Toton-Lane/story-27671487-detail/story.html |first = Tracy |last = Walker |work = [[Nottingham Post]] |publisher = Local World Limited |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921143526/http://www.nottinghampost.com/Cheers-tram-leaves-Toton-Lane/story-27671487-detail/story.html |archive-date = 21 September 2015 |url-status = dead |access-date = 25 August 2015 |df = dmy-all |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.thetram.net/new-tram-stop-for-station.aspx#Newtramstopforstation |title = New tram stop for station |publisher = Nottingham Express Transit |access-date = 5 August 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921141555/http://www.thetram.net/new-tram-stop-for-station.aspx |archive-date = 21 September 2015 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = History made as new tram routes open |url = http://www.thetram.net/history-made-as-new-tram-routes-open.aspx#HISTORYMADEASNEWTRAMROUTESOPEN |publisher = Nottingham Express Transit |access-date = 25 August 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921142800/http://www.thetram.net/history-made-as-new-tram-routes-open.aspx |archive-date = 21 September 2015 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2 opens |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/nottingham-express-transit-phase-2-opens.html |work = Railway Gazette |publisher = DVV Media UK Ltd  |date = 25 August 2015 |access-date = 25 August 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150910200306/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/nottingham-express-transit-phase-2-opens.html |archive-date = 10 September 2015 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref>

During the planning and construction phases, the initial system (including both branches) was often referred to as line 1, with the line 2 name used for the new line to Clifton and line 3 for the new line to Toton. With the publication of the timetables covering through running between the initial system and phase two, this terminology was changed, with line 1 referring to the through service from Hucknall to Toton, and line 2 to the service from Phoenix Park to Clifton.<ref name=neteytn>{{cite web |url = http://thetram.net/Userfiles/PDFs/ExtendIng%20your%20tram%20network_AMENDED%20copy%20text.pdf |title = Extending your Tram Service |publisher = Nottingham Express Transit |access-date = 5 August 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150807090648/http://www.thetram.net/Userfiles/PDFs/ExtendIng%20your%20tram%20network_AMENDED%20copy%20text.pdf |archive-date = 7 August 2015 |url-status = live |language = en-gb}}</ref>