Trams returned to the
streets of Nottingham in 2004 after an absence of some 68 years. The current fleet are operated by Tramlink
Nottingham with the brand name of Nottingham
Express Transit, but the initials NET
are used as the fleet logo on the vehicles, publicity and infrastructure. At the time of filming the fleet consisted of
fifteen Bombardier Incentro AT6/5
trams numbered 201 to 215 and twenty-two Citadis
302 trams numbered 216 to 237.
The
numbering system carries on from the last batch of trams delivered in
1926
numbered 181 to 200. The initial route
on the new system, that opened in 2004, runs from the city centre to
Hucknall
with a spur running from Highbury Vale to Phoenix Park. This was
known as Phase One. Phase Two was opened on the 25th August
2015. This is infact two lines, one
being from Nottingham Station to Clifton South, the other being from
Nottingham
Station to Toton Lane. Both new termini
as with the existing termini incorporate large Park & Ride
sites. This DVD programme was filmed over four
visits to the city from 2014 to 2016 and is in two parts. The
first covers Phase One, our first visit
being in June 2014. Starting with a ride
on Bombardier tram 209 from Phoenix
Park to Nottingham Station, which at the time was the end of the line. We then take up positions at some seven
locations along the route within the city centre, including Middle Hill,
Fletcher Gate, Victoria Street and Goldsmith Street. At Old Market Square we see brand new Alstom Citadis tram number 223 on driver
familiarisation duties. Also look out for Bombardier
tram 211 on driver training duties in an all over advertisement for Phase Two
and advertising the new Alstom
trams! Filming continues at The Forest
and at Highbury Vale. From here we join
tram 209 again for the short journey to Phoenix Park.
Our second visit in 2014 was in October,
where we board tram 217 and ride from Phoenix Park to Lace Market to film more
action in the city centre. We join 217
again to visit the Nottingham Station stop and then continue filming in the
city centre at various locations.
Further footage is filmed at the Hucknall terminal. We then board tram 204 to Highbury Vale to
see action at this busy junction before returning to Phoenix Park on board tram
208. Our third visit in April 2015 sees
the new Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge at the new station stop prior to its
official opening. We continue with
further filming in the city centre and at The Forest stop.
The second half of our programme shows Phase
Two in its entirety. Filmed in September
2016, we begin with the Clifton line at the Nottingham Station stop and film
the route from either the roadside or on board the trams. Locations include Meadows Way, Queens Walk,
Wilford Bridge and Village, Clifton Centre and Clifton South terminal. The Toton Lane line is also covered in its
entirety from Nottingham station, with locations including, NG2, Gregory
Street, Queens Medical Centre, the University areas, Beeston Centre and
Chilwell. We then ride to Toton Lane on
tram 208. Our final location on this
programme is the Wilkinson Street stop and junction, where we film the evening
peak, which is adjacent to the tram depot. There is plenty of action to see as
night falls and the first tram returns to the depot after a long and busy
day! Whilst filming in Nottingham we
found that the people of the city and the NET
staff were very proud of their tram system.
We would like to thank all the members of NET staff, drivers and inspectors that we came in contact with
during our filming. Their help and
information was most valuable and made our filming a most pleasurable
experience.