Editing Nottingham Express Transit (section)

===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>