NET Extension

[LLivery]

I jumped on a Toton-Hucknall at Midland station towards the city and I must say it was standing only - it was only 14:30. First time I've been on NET at all, the new trams are very nice indeed. Looking forward to explore the network soon.

 

[howittpie]

As a now daily user of NET from Inham Road it is noticeable how much busier the Toton Lane trams are compared to the Clifton ones. Whether this continues now the kids have gone back to school remains to be seen.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

The Hucknall Trams are always busier than the Phoenix Park as they serve two towns and thus Toton - serving Beeston, Chilwell, QMC as well are bound to be busier than Clifton.
I would have thought a 10minute Phoenix to Clifton adequate with a 5 or 6 minute Hucknall to Toton service more appropriate.

 

[davetheguard]

I'm planning on doing the two new routes on Friday. It must be 18 months since I last travelled on NET; do they still have Conductors, or have they gone over to ticket machines now?

 

[Robertj21a]

I'm planning on doing the two new routes on Friday. It must be 18 months since I last travelled on NET; do they still have Conductors, or have they gone over to ticket machines now?

Only ticket machines - plus lots of ticket checks on board.

 

[duffield]

Only ticket machines - plus lots of ticket checks on board.

...and a £50 fine if you don't buy before you board!

Note if you're going to use buses etc. as well you might be best with a day Kangeroo ticket, covers all buses, trams and trains within the defined 'greater Nottingham' area.

I have an annual one of these for £540 and although I could get away with an NCT annual pass at £420 (I don't really *need* to use trams and non-NCT buses) I pay the extra for flexibility and convenience and consider it well-spent.

 

[Robertj21a]

Kangaroo is very good value at only £4.50

 

[davetheguard]

Kangaroo is very good value at only £4.50

A Nottingham "PlusBus" add on to a rail ticket seems to be £4.20. As well as buses it also covers travel on the tram according to the PlusBus website.

Is there any difference between the travel areas allowed by these two tickets: Kangaroo v PlusBus?

 

[Mitch in Notts]

According to the Plusbus map the boundaries are Moor Bridge and Chilwell - so no not valid on Hucknall Toton Lane line to either terminus. And to quote the Plusbus site (note no mention of Hucknall):
Additional Information:
A Nottingham PLUSBUS ticket is valid for travel on the 'Nottingham Express Tram' (NET) network.

The tram links Nottingham's main railway station with the city centre and northwards to Phoenix Park and Bulwell.

 

[firespire]

A Nottingham "PlusBus" add on to a rail ticket seems to be £4.20. As well as buses it also covers travel on the tram according to the PlusBus website.

Is there any difference between the travel areas allowed by these two tickets: Kangaroo v PlusBus?

According to NET Facebook Kangaroo and PlusBus can now get you all the way to Toton Lane.
https://www.facebook.com/thetram.net/posts/717743588330414

The Hucknall "Tram only" bit available on the Kangaroo is not mentioned for the PlusBus. Although the council is the setter for both the Kangaroo and Plusbus areas for Nottingham so maybe this needs further clarification with either the Tram Operator or the Council .

 

[davetheguard]

In the end, I didn't got for either the PlusBus or Kangaroo ticket; I just bought a One Day tram only ticket for £4 from the ticket machine at the Nottingham (railway) Station tram stop.

That got me to successfully to Clifton South and back, but when heading off to "do" the Toton Lane route, I only got two stops (NG2) before the tram came to a stand and lost power. That was about 14.00. According to the driver there had been a complete power failure from there to Toton. Nothing moved in either direction. We were asked to get off and stand on the platform; luckily it wasn't raining. I waited nearly half an hour, and of course nobody could say when things would resume - it being one of those "how long is a piece of string?" type questions. So I reluctantly gave up on the idea, walked back to the railway station, and got the train the 3.5 hours back via London to Oxfordshire.

An interesting day, but only a partial success when it came to the track bashing!

As a matter of interest does anybody know when things started to run again?

 

[howittpie]

There was also a failed tram this evening peak just south of the station meaning no trams from ng2/Meadows Way to Nottingham Station.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Seems to have been almost constant chaos since 2pm till early evening according to the Trams facebook page. It was even delaying buses in the Meadows as Trams were queueing across junctions......
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
IKEA extension feasibility study:

http://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=32870&p=0

 

[CallySleeper]

I've seen the mileages (tram stop distances) for phase 2, but typically it's omitting the distance from Station Street to Nottingham Station. Does anyone have this info?

 

[martinr1]

Had a pleasant visit to the system on Thursday and all was working well on both routes

Here are some scenes at Clifton and Wilford Road

https://youtu.be/fzgORVgECa8

https://youtu.be/I1wc5e_ldF8

 

[howittpie]

Friday 11th was a bad day for the service. There were delays as the tour of Britain had to cross the tracks meaning services were paused this was followed by a failed tram at Noel Street in the evening peak and then ambulance blocking the tracks during the evening also at Noel Street.
The lack of information was noticeable at tram stops. Arrived at Royal Centre at 5.30 board showing next Toton Lane tram 24 minutes this went down then upto 35 minutes before disappearing of the screen. Then a tram suddenly appeared it was noticeable that the boards all the way home were showing next tram 47 minutes. There was queue of trams through the city centre is there anywhere like the forest to turn some back to provide a service south at times like. NET need improve there information at times of disruption.

 

[edwin_m]

There was queue of trams through the city centre is there anywhere like the forest to turn some back to provide a service south at times like. NET need improve there information at times of disruption.

I assume services from the south can be terminated at the station then switch tracks using the crossovers there and return southwards.

 

[MCR247]

There are also switches at the start of both branches, which were used when the new Station stop opened

 

[edwin_m]

There are also switches at the start of both branches, which were used when the new Station stop opened

Due to the street running in between I think the first crossover on the Toton line is nearly at the NG2 stop, so if trams from the west had to terminate there it would be a longish walk to the city centre.

 

[kevjs]

Due to the street running in between I think the first crossover on the Toton line is nearly at the NG2 stop, so if trams from the west had to terminate there it would be a longish walk to the city centre.

It is indeed, but as has already been mentioned the switches remain at the northern side of the station. Even Queen's Walk would be a bit of a trek to the city centre (unlike Royal Centre where you are in the city centre).

 

[tramdan]

It is indeed, but as has already been mentioned the switches remain at the northern side of the station. Even Queen's Walk would be a bit of a trek to the city centre (unlike Royal Centre where you are in the city centre).

The scissors crossover to the north of the former Station Street tramstop isn't currently available for crossover movements, except for the three daily trams that use it to terminate at Nottingham Station tramstop.

 

[edwin_m]

The scissors crossover to the north of the former Station Street tramstop isn't currently available for crossover movements, except for the three daily trams that use it to terminate at Nottingham Station tramstop.

Any plans to bring it back into full use, or perhaps to reduce it to a trailing crossover only? As stated above the next turnback stations on both routes are far enough away to need shuttle buses if the city centre is blocked, whereas most passengers would be able to walk to and from the station tramstop.

 

[geoffk]

Not sure if this has been asked before, but is the Kangaroo ticket valid on the new southern extensions to Toton and Clifton? I think it's valid to Hucknall. The map on their website is not clear at all. It's worth paying an extra 50p over the cost of a tram-only ticket, but only if I can travel the whole route.

 

[MCR247]

Yes it is

 

[tramdan]

Any plans to bring it back into full use, or perhaps to reduce it to a trailing crossover only? As stated above the next turnback stations on both routes are far enough away to need shuttle buses if the city centre is blocked, whereas most passengers would be able to walk to and from the station tramstop.

No idea of any plans, though I can't see there being any issue in doing so. It was used in this way when the daytime testing and training was ongoing on the Phase 2 routes, whereby trams would cross back over onto line one, through Station Street tramstop to just beyond the scissors, then change ends and return to Phase 2 via the crossover. I suspect that a similar method of operation could, in principle, be repeated.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Not sure if this has been asked before, but is the Kangaroo ticket valid on the new southern extensions to Toton and Clifton? I think it's valid to Hucknall. The map on their website is not clear at all. It's worth paying an extra 50p over the cost of a tram-only ticket, but only if I can travel the whole route.

Indeed, it is valid on the tram over the whole network. Interestingly, a couple of termini actually extend outside the usual Kangaroo boundary, however validity is extended to these stops for convenience.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Yes it is

The Citycard website states:
Kangaroo Travel
A Kangaroo ticket allows unlimited travel on most* buses, trams and trains within the Kangaroo boundary which covers the Greater Nottingham area, including the tram to Hucknall. All our Park and Ride sites also offer free parking when using the bus or tram.

Amusingly the new Nottingham City council map at my bus stop shows the new tram stops. The Toton Lane stop is shown within the Kangaroo area. Beyond Hucknall is shown as OUTSIDE the Kangaroo area. Haven't got a clue what they are doing comes to mind....

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Is the Kangaroo ticket valid to Attenborough National Rail station? At least one ap shows the station, but you can see it is outside the circle.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Attenborough station is within the boundary on my December 2013 Kangaroo system map.

On the same system map it states that 'Only tram travel is valid to Hucknall not bus & train travel'.

 

[MCR247]

I think that's right unless they've changed it as it was only extended to hucknall when the team arrived, the same as phase 2

 

[howittpie]

Kangaroo is valid on the full tram network. Used it on Sunday to Hucknall . It is not valid on buses outside greater Nottingham on the bus.
Attenborough station is still in the kangaroo area as the bus extends out to Chilwell retail park.