NET Extension

[MCR247]

Ta, I'll have to dig the manual out.

Where's Shipstone Street? Saw a southbound one heading to that past the Broadmarsh last night, I thought that it was near Wilkinson Street but that would be north of there? Unless it's a peak time double short (i.e turning back at Nottingham Station) and the destination was changed early?

Also, is out just me or are the displays on the ADTranz stock really dark and hard to read in direct sunlight? The Altsom ones are really bright!

The tram destination displays used to change after departing the Lace Market heading towards Station Street. I must admit that I didn't think they still did since the new station stop opened as they reverse at Queens Walk or Meadows Way now and so display those stops until the reversal

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Ta, I'll have to dig the manual out.

If there's a slider or similar on the lens unit marked "A" and "M" that'll be it.

 

[kevjs]

The tram destination displays used to change after departing the Lace Market heading towards Station Street. I must admit that I didn't think they still did since the new station stop opened as they reverse at Queens Walk or Meadows Way now and so display those stops until the reversal

This was Friday, so Clifton South and Toton Lane had become the main turn back points. Perhaps the station can cope with the odd turn back in it's new configuration but not all north facing services.

With the new layout it looks like north facing services could turn back but would need to utilise the Station Street Platforms, south south facing services could turn back using the regular platforms, and therefore trying to turn the north facing services back while using the new platforms was a bit of a faff?

If Nottingham station ever needs to be closed then the Toton services are going to be terminating a fair distance from the city centre (i.e. ng2), Clifton ones have Queen's Walk just outside the city and Line 1 trams have Royal Centre.

 

[edwin_m]

If Nottingham station ever needs to be closed then the Toton services are going to be terminating a fair distance from the city centre (i.e. ng2), Clifton ones have Queen's Walk just outside the city and Line 1 trams have Royal Centre.

Relatively unlikely this will happen though. City centre closures are usually due to a special event or an accident that blocks the tramline, but there is very little to cause such a problem on the way to the station tramstop. If it does happen then it would be easy to run a bus replacement from ng2 or Meadows Embankment - perhaps even the same bus serving both. Even when the station stop remained open I doubt they would want to have passengers interchanging with replacement buses there.

 

[howittpie]

Plenty of trams around Beeston at lunchtime. 4 arrived in about from 5 minutes heading away from City. 2 turned at Beeston and departed showing Phoneix Park.

 

[duffield]

The post is reporting a competition to win 'VIP tickets' for 11th/12th August:
http://www.nottinghampost.com/Track-chance-tram-history/story-27531777-detail/story.html

What they don't state explicitly is whether this means 11th August is the first day of public operation (with just the specified services for VIPs only) or if the actual public service starts on (say) 13th August after the 'VIP days'.

However, the article contains the following: ".. a special preview trip *before* services open to the public,.." which implies that full public service won't be until at least 13th August, i.e. after the two 'preview days'. Or maybe they won't start till the following Monday?

 

[nottinghamcity]

Plenty of trams around Beeston at lunchtime. 4 arrived in about from 5 minutes heading away from City. 2 turned at Beeston and departed showing Phoneix Park.

Quite badly bunched earlier today, saw 3 in procession at about 17:40. Looks like the timetable still needs a little tweaking. Good news though, looks like the start is now almost certainly on the next fortnight.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Quite badly bunched earlier today, saw 3 in procession at about 17:40. Looks like the timetable still needs a little tweaking. Good news though, looks like the start is now almost certainly on the next fortnight.

According to the trams facebook page they were dealing with the theoretical situation of the Clifton line being closed - so all trams were running to Beeston instead. Interesting........ lead to complaints about the Uni Blvd traffic lights being stuck on red for 5 minutes....

 

[Techniquest]

Ooh this is good news, as I'm considering a trip to Nottingham for the new tram lines on 17th August. I need to check several bits and bobs first, make sure I won't bowl myself out like I nearly did for my last bash, but until confirmation it's all go I'll be looking at split tickets.

Bring on the new lines!

 

[martinr1]

It's getting ever more exciting as the opening approaches. Here are couple of contributions from today:-

https://youtu.be/u6rx2ujTPR4


https://youtu.be/Qm1gnMRyMfA

 

[ashworth]

This morning on local radio it was suggested that although no official date has yet been given, it is now possible that passengers may be able to travel on the new lines to Toton and Clifton next week.

 

[nottinghamcity]

Fair bit if snagging going on yesterday (09/08). Cutting out sections of the anti-slip between Beeston interchange and castle college, replacing it with temporary reinstatement.

 

[Polarbear]

Although I'm looking forward to the NET extensions opening, it does seem to be taking an age to finalise all of the testing? It may just be me, but I don't recall quite such a protracted run up to any of the Metrolink lines opening in Manchester (or indeed, Supertram in Sheffield).

Anyone like to have an educated guess as to when the new lines may open to the public?

 

[MCR247]

Maybe they want to be extra sure that everything is ok because once they open it, all services will partly run on the new lines as they aren't just branches?

 

[nottinghamcity]

I seem to remember (and it was a long time ago) that the line 1 testing was 3 or 4 weeks. If this becomes the period for these lines, then the end of the month is still likely. Noticed today that both lines are germinating in the meadows.

 

[kevjs]

Although I'm looking forward to the NET extensions opening, it does seem to be taking an age to finalise all of the testing? It may just be me, but I don't recall quite such a protracted run up to any of the Metrolink lines opening in Manchester (or indeed, Supertram in Sheffield).

Anyone like to have an educated guess as to when the new lines may open to the public?

The Cheif Exec from Tramlink was on Notts TV last week, they were still on track for public service commencing before the end of August.
http://nottstv.com/categories/news/?bctid=4414096541001

 

[duffield]

The Cheif Exec from Tramlink was on Notts TV last week, they were still on track for public service commencing before the end of August.

That would just about fit with the latest rumour I've heard (via person at work who got it from someone down the allotment!). They're saying that it's likely to be about two weeks from now (i.e. bank holiday Monday, 31st August or around then).

 

[edwin_m]

Leaflets with the timetable for the extended routes (but no opening date) have appeared in racks at Nottingham station. The PDF on the website only shows the existing routes - perhaps they have run out of the old leaflets and there is no point printing any more?

 

[martinr1]

Some scenes from Monday 17th August with the shadow service in full swing past the Queen's Medical Centre.

https://youtu.be/85oqO9zNIqc

and a look at Gregory Street

https://youtu.be/UFv9EncPzQY

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Leaflets with the timetable for the extended routes (but no opening date) have appeared in racks at Nottingham station. The PDF on the website only shows the existing routes - perhaps they have run out of the old leaflets and there is no point printing any more?

These were available on tram on Friday 31st July when the actual timetable on them came into effect on the existing network. Unbelievably they replaced the new timetable & leaflet that came into effect on the 27th July!!

http://www.thetram.net/minor-changes-to-tram-times.aspx#MinorChangestoTramTimes

 

[davetheguard]

The Cheif Exec from Tramlink was on Notts TV last week, they were still on track for public service commencing before the end of August.
http://nottstv.com/categories/news/?bctid=4414096541001

Am I the only one who finds it utterly unbelievable that we're so potentially close to the start of public service on the extensions, but they still won't give a firm date!

Risk adverse or what?

 

[Altfish]

Am I the only one who finds it utterly unbelievable that we're so potentially close to the start of public service on the extensions, but they still won't give a firm date!

Risk adverse or what?

If the press in Nottingham is anything like the Evening News in Manchester then NET are playing it correctly. Say nothing until you know you can deliver.

 

[pjnathanail]

An interesting link here which might shed some light on the situation...

http://staplefordcommunitygroup.org...icial-it-opens-on-tuesday-25th-august-at-6am/

After a lot of hard work it is officially opening at 6am on Tuesday 25th August.

Come and join Councillor Richard MacRae as he cuts the ribbon to welcome THE PLATFORM Food & Drinks Kiosk to the Stapleford Tram Terminus on Toton Lane, Stapleford.

The Kiosk is being ran by Hayley Wigley who previously ran The Station Cafe which is based next to the Japanese Water Gardens also at Toton Lane Stapleford.

Now you may wonder why a News Kiosk is opening at 6am on Tuesday 25th August at the Stapleford Tram Terminus. Or is it that obvious**.

11866304_10154209470935021_596056327953863303_n

You can find the Tram Timetable via the following link:

http://staplefordcommunitygroup.org.uk/2015/08/08/stapleford-tram-timetable/

** NO OFFICIAL DATE AND TIME HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BY NET AS TO WHEN THE TRAM WILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

 

[edwin_m]

I would think a Sunday opening is more likely than a Tuesday, as it's better to have a quieter day to get things settled in (and all the bashers don't interfere so much with normal business).

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Yes but Edwin, this is NET and when you consider they introduced their last timetable change on a Friday (why?)...... I think anything is possible.
I would hope they get it open a good week before the kids go back to school in September - though they are rapidly running out of August!

 

[Jordeh]

I would think a Sunday opening is more likely than a Tuesday, as it's better to have a quieter day to get things settled in (and all the bashers don't interfere so much with normal business).

Yes but Edwin, this is NET and when you consider they introduced their last timetable change on a Friday (why?)...... I think anything is possible.
I would hope they get it open a good week before the kids go back to school in September - though they are rapidly running out of August!

There's certainly precedent for a Tuesday opening, line one.

 

[kevjs]

Am I the only one who finds it utterly unbelievable that we're so potentially close to the start of public service on the extensions, but they still won't give a firm date!

Risk adverse or what?

Considering the absolute slating they are getting for the delays so far it's not surprising they don't want to announce a date until they are 100% sure they can deliver.

A Tuesday during the school holidays sounds sensible - wouldn't surprise me if it happens to be mid-morning either, i.e. get all the weekly commuters on the bus for a week, miss the morning rush hour, and then launch.

Freeview and Sky changes all tend to be Tuesday-Thursday too, come in Monday, review the weekend, then on Tuesday when everyone is still fresh for the week do the big change, gives you all week of maximum staff to fix it.

 

[nottinghamcity]

On NET phase 2's website

Councillor Jane Urquhart, with lead responsibility for NET at Nottingham City Council, said: “The final stages of timetable trials have been going extremely well and, as a result, we are only a matter of days from being able to confirm an opening date. We are intending to make a further announcement on Monday.

http://www.thetram.net/tram-opening-date-getting-nearer.aspx#TRAMOPENINGDATEGETTINGNEARER

 

[Yew]

Apparently it is 'just days away' according to twitter..

 

[edwin_m]

Announced that there will be an announcement on Monday.

http://www.thetram.net/tram-opening-date-getting-nearer.aspx#TRAMOPENINGDATEGETTINGNEARER

Councillor Jane Urquhart, with lead responsibility for NET at Nottingham City Council, said: “The final stages of timetable trials have been going extremely well and, as a result, we are only a matter of days from being able to confirm an opening date. We are intending to make a further announcement on Monday.