Nottingham: which do you recommend?

[railfan99]

Later this year in Nottingham, I may not have time to do all tram routes.

Being foreign, I enjoy seeing 'traditional' British areas rather than (say) in Scotland last year when parts of the Edinburgh Airport line seemed to be 'new build' suburbs or localities.

Could you rank the four tram lines from most interesting to least, and briefly explain why?

The four routes are:
Hucknall
Phoenix Park

to the north, and
Toton Lane to the west

plus
Clifton South to the south, so it appears from the Urban Rail site.

It does not matter if one route serves a lower socio-economic area than another.

 

[Jozhua]

Hucknall
Toton Lane
Clifton South
Phoenix Park

I wouldn't bother with Phoenix Park, it is a pretty short branch.

On Toton Lane, I'd recommend heading to beeston centre and then turning back - then you get to see the bit around the university of Nottingham campus, as well as the bridge across QMC.

Once you're past Wilkinson St, it doesn't take that long to get to Hucknall so worth heading all the way out there!

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Phoenix Park branch used to be the former Cinderhill Colliery Branch untill the early 80's (?) if thats of any remote interest (although literally nothing of any Industrial Heritage remains, its a modern Park and Ride Site next to the M1)

 

[Robertj21a]

There's only 2 routes, cross-city, to 4 termini and don't take long to do both.
I agree that Phoenix Park isn't necessary.

 

[edwin_m]

Between the Forest and Wilkinson Street, the route towards Hucknall or Phoenix Park is one way on two parallel streets, one a main road with a tram lane and one something of a back street close to traditional terraced housing. North of there it's basically following the Robin Hood railway.

The Toton route runs through more affluent Victorian suburbs in the Beeston area and Chilwell High Road.

 

[THC]

I don't know why people are suggesting to omit the Phoenix Park branch as a round trip from Highbury Vale tramstop would add fifteen minutes to your itinerary at most. If you're doing the rest then you may as well do that too.

THC

 

[railfan99]

I don't know why people are suggesting to omit the Phoenix Park branch as a round trip from Highbury Vale tramstop would add fifteen minutes to your itinerary at most. If you're doing the rest then you may as well do that too.

I may have failed to sufficiently explain that my rail itinerary is taxing as it's aimed at maximising coverage of new lines, so I may not have time to do all 'four' lines/branches (yes, I know strictly two lines with shortish branches).

 

[THC]

I may have failed to sufficiently explain that my rail itinerary is taxing as it's aimed at maximising coverage of new lines, so I may not have time to do all 'four' lines/branches (yes, I know strictly two lines with shortish branches).

Fair enough. That being the case, if I had to pick one it would be the Clifton South branch, as you get some inner city (the Meadows), some fast running along/beside the old Great Central main line (Wilford Village to Ruddington Lane), a bit of greenery and then a typical edge-of-Nottingham estate (Clifton) to finish. From Nottingham station to the terminus and back should take about an hour. All subjective of course and our learned colleagues hereabouts may well make better cases for their favourite branches. Happy planning!

THC

 

[50002Superb]

If you are pressed for time get the train to Hucknall and come back via Tram or vice versa

 

[railfan99]

Fair enough. That being the case, if I had to pick one it would be the Clifton South branch, as you get some inner city (the Meadows), some fast running along/beside the old Great Central main line (Wilford Village to Ruddington Lane), a bit of greenery and then a typical edge-of-Nottingham estate (Clifton) to finish. From Nottingham station to the terminus and back should take about an hour. All subjective of course and our learned colleagues hereabouts may well make better cases for their favourite branches. Happy planning!

THC

Thanks. Your and other suggestions are excellent. Always good to see non-CBD parts of cities by tram.

Terrific that UK in some non-capital cities has trams/light rail, even though the wholesale destruction of former tramways in so many cities during mid to late 1950s/early 1960s was sad.

 

[geoffk]

The Clifton South line crosses the River Trent on the listed Wilford Toll Bridge, built in 1870. This has been strengthened and widened to accommodate the trams. This is worth seeing - there's still an old toll booth there - and the line then runs along part of the old GC main line, as has been mentioned above. The Toton line has a stop at the first floor level of the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham's teaching hospital. The line then crosses the A52 road on a large steel bowstring arch bridge. From my few visits, I would suggest going for the Clifton South south line first if time is limited.

 

[railfan99]

The Clifton South line crosses the River Trent on the listed Wilford Toll Bridge, built in 1870. This has been strengthened and widened to accommodate the trams. This is worth seeing - there's still an old toll booth there - and the line then runs along part of the old GC main line, as has been mentioned above. The Toton line has a stop at the first floor level of the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham's teaching hospital. The line then crosses the A52 road on a large steel bowstring arch bridge. From my few visits, I would suggest going for the Clifton South south line first if time is limited.

I enjoy history, and 'toll booths' from 150+ years ago are that. Great suggestions.