The final stage of testing for Nottingham’s new expanded tram network will get under way tomorrow (Friday, 31 July).
Following the opening of the new Nottingham Station tram stop, NET is to start full timetable tests with trams running from every seven minutes on both of the new lines to Clifton and Toton.
Councillor Nick McDonald at Nottingham City Council said: “This is really great news because we’re very nearly there now.
“For people along the new lines they will, in effect, see the trams operating just as they will do when actual services start. For just a little while yet they won’t be able to get on board even though trams will pull up at the stops.
“It is all part of the important step of making sure the full timetable across the whole network, including Line One, is working just as we expect. We’ll then get the green light and it’s all systems go.”
For current customers on Line One, they will continue to see trams displaying destinations of Toton Lane and Clifton South but NET Marketing Manager Jamie Swift explained: “This process is for testing purposes only and, until the new lines open, all our services will still terminate at Nottingham Station.”
Meanwhile, minor changes are being introduced to the current tram timetable on Line One as part of the final trials.
Jamie said: “Most existing customers will hardly notice any difference because trams will run just as frequently but for those passengers using our early morning and late evening services we’ve made some minor adjustments to departure times.
“The first tram from Hucknall will now be 6am instead of 6.05am and the first Phoenix Park service will now run 6 minutes earlier at 5.58am. There’ll also be later trams from our new Nottingham Station stop to both Hucknall and Phoenix Park.”
The amended timetable will be in operation seven days a week from 31 July and full details will be published on tram stops and the brand new www.thetram.net website which is also launched on Friday.
Jamie said: “We’ve significantly upgraded our website and added extra, easy-to-use functionality to help our customers plan their journeys. There’s a host of other information about our services, tram news and maps to help people find all our park and ride sites and various locations around our stops.
“We think it will prove to be a real boost for customers and it’s another step forward as we prepare for the opening of the expanded network.”