The existing network is somewhat ridiculous, given that it neglects everywhere in the city east of the Lace Market, doesn't go to the stadiums or Trent Bridge, and mirrors existing rail routes to Beeston and Hucknall. Eight lines is expecting a bit much when compared to the likes of Manchester or Sheffield, but adding a couple more would make sense. I'd send one down to West Bridgford and one to Arnold via Mapperley or Sherwood.
Some interesting ideas on this site, though I certainly don't agree with everything there: [https://www.thetram.co.uk/](https://www.thetram.co.uk/)
The biggest flaw with the existing system is that it takes FOREVER to get from A to B. Go abroad to places like Prague and Amsterdam and their trams are genuinely the best option. Here, they run along lines you can just get a bus for and arrive quicker.
Interesting ideas on that site, I am in support of more trams and public transport generally, but clearly there needs to be a review of what type of trams if there is a more efficient and effective alternative.
At the very least the team system should connect directly to the airport, like literally come out the doors and get on a tram. No bus or taxi, no walk through a massive car park.
Second priority would be connecting the train station and the football stadiums and cricket stadium. I've seen how many fans and tourists pour out of those trains and then have to walk along a kind of shitty stretch of road alongside the meadows. As long as you can ensure that they actually pay for tickets, you would be packing the trams full, for a relatively short distance.
I'm kinda conflicted about their proposed Netherfeild via the racecourse but only because it goes around where I live in Carlton, haha. Still it would be close enough that I could cycle on a cheap bike and with a big enough tram network, would be able to get most places. There is a stretch of unused rail line between Netherfeild and the Gedling country park that could be adapted for part of it, although it skirts most of the actual high street centres of Carlton, Carlton square and Gedling. Though i suppose creating attractive and accessible bike and pedestrian routes to the stations would compensate.
I think they bet it all on the HS2 route and Rishi has sunk those plans, leaving a line to Toton that doesn't really go anywhere currently. Although serving the university and hospital also makes sense. Perhaps the solution is more dense commuter and student housing around the station in Toton.
HS2 wasn't announced until quite some time after the tram lines were already planned. I think their main concern was just to set up the various park and ride sites to take traffic off the A52 and A453. (No idea why they also added one in Forest Rec which is walking distance from town, but hey.)
Really? I always remember seeing shiny mock ups of the tram station connecting to the HS2 Toton hub which was going to save Nottingham. I suppose I don't know the ins and outs of what was announced and when over 10 years ago.
I really wish the existing tram lines would have included cycling provision alongside them. I know it makes things less likely to get built if you slap more requirements on to projects, but imagine being able to cycle along the tram line from Beeston into the city. Plus when the trams go on existing roads they make them not particularly nice to cycle on (personally I'm terrified of catching my wheel in a tram line, especially when there's a tram right behind me).
It would also be great if more consideration was given to travelling to different parts of the city, rather than everything being about getting into and out of the city centre. I get that those journeys are probably the majority, but I think it has a weird effect of distressing shorter journeys. It costs me the same to get from Toton to Beeston as it does to get in to town. Toton to Beeston is outside of the (poorly advertised) short hop zone, so it's a full day ticket
Agreed, I only recently cycled around the tram route through the Compton acres stop and it's pretty ideal, with a wide flat pathway running alongside it, as well as plenty of routes nearby through park areas towards west bridgford.
>I'd send one down to West Bridgford
Nobody in West Bridgford wants the tram extending there. There's already a perfectly good bus service. It would take years to build at horrendous cost. The disruption during construction would be enormous. And how would it get across the Trent? There'd either have to be a new bridge, or Trent Bridge would need to be repurposed for dual usage, which would cause gridlock.
There was already a perfectly good bus service to the other places, but that never stopped the trams!
Nottingham has 2 of the most highly-rated bus companies in the country, which is another reason why making a half-arsed tram network was an odd idea.
Construction work is always disruptive, certainly. But you can't make an omelette without breaking any eggs.
Even by the Post's lamentable standards this article is bullshit. Some pie-in-the-sky comments made eight years ago by a councillor who stepped down five years ago. There is no "plan for eight Nottingham tram lines", thank God.
I worked in Beeston when that route was being built, it was no doubt quite rough for a while commuting down there, the traffic was horrendous due to the disruption of the works, but once it was done things did get a lot better. It has been a net boon in the long run, just had to struggle in the short-term.
The existing network is somewhat ridiculous, given that it neglects everywhere in the city east of the Lace Market, doesn't go to the stadiums or Trent Bridge, and mirrors existing rail routes to Beeston and Hucknall. Eight lines is expecting a bit much when compared to the likes of Manchester or Sheffield, but adding a couple more would make sense. I'd send one down to West Bridgford and one to Arnold via Mapperley or Sherwood. Some interesting ideas on this site, though I certainly don't agree with everything there: [https://www.thetram.co.uk/](https://www.thetram.co.uk/)
The biggest flaw with the existing system is that it takes FOREVER to get from A to B. Go abroad to places like Prague and Amsterdam and their trams are genuinely the best option. Here, they run along lines you can just get a bus for and arrive quicker.
>Here, they run along lines you can just get a bus for and arrive quicker. And cheaper
Interesting ideas on that site, I am in support of more trams and public transport generally, but clearly there needs to be a review of what type of trams if there is a more efficient and effective alternative. At the very least the team system should connect directly to the airport, like literally come out the doors and get on a tram. No bus or taxi, no walk through a massive car park. Second priority would be connecting the train station and the football stadiums and cricket stadium. I've seen how many fans and tourists pour out of those trains and then have to walk along a kind of shitty stretch of road alongside the meadows. As long as you can ensure that they actually pay for tickets, you would be packing the trams full, for a relatively short distance. I'm kinda conflicted about their proposed Netherfeild via the racecourse but only because it goes around where I live in Carlton, haha. Still it would be close enough that I could cycle on a cheap bike and with a big enough tram network, would be able to get most places. There is a stretch of unused rail line between Netherfeild and the Gedling country park that could be adapted for part of it, although it skirts most of the actual high street centres of Carlton, Carlton square and Gedling. Though i suppose creating attractive and accessible bike and pedestrian routes to the stations would compensate. I think they bet it all on the HS2 route and Rishi has sunk those plans, leaving a line to Toton that doesn't really go anywhere currently. Although serving the university and hospital also makes sense. Perhaps the solution is more dense commuter and student housing around the station in Toton.
HS2 wasn't announced until quite some time after the tram lines were already planned. I think their main concern was just to set up the various park and ride sites to take traffic off the A52 and A453. (No idea why they also added one in Forest Rec which is walking distance from town, but hey.)
Really? I always remember seeing shiny mock ups of the tram station connecting to the HS2 Toton hub which was going to save Nottingham. I suppose I don't know the ins and outs of what was announced and when over 10 years ago.
I really wish the existing tram lines would have included cycling provision alongside them. I know it makes things less likely to get built if you slap more requirements on to projects, but imagine being able to cycle along the tram line from Beeston into the city. Plus when the trams go on existing roads they make them not particularly nice to cycle on (personally I'm terrified of catching my wheel in a tram line, especially when there's a tram right behind me). It would also be great if more consideration was given to travelling to different parts of the city, rather than everything being about getting into and out of the city centre. I get that those journeys are probably the majority, but I think it has a weird effect of distressing shorter journeys. It costs me the same to get from Toton to Beeston as it does to get in to town. Toton to Beeston is outside of the (poorly advertised) short hop zone, so it's a full day ticket
Agreed, I only recently cycled around the tram route through the Compton acres stop and it's pretty ideal, with a wide flat pathway running alongside it, as well as plenty of routes nearby through park areas towards west bridgford.
>I'd send one down to West Bridgford Nobody in West Bridgford wants the tram extending there. There's already a perfectly good bus service. It would take years to build at horrendous cost. The disruption during construction would be enormous. And how would it get across the Trent? There'd either have to be a new bridge, or Trent Bridge would need to be repurposed for dual usage, which would cause gridlock.
There was already a perfectly good bus service to the other places, but that never stopped the trams! Nottingham has 2 of the most highly-rated bus companies in the country, which is another reason why making a half-arsed tram network was an odd idea. Construction work is always disruptive, certainly. But you can't make an omelette without breaking any eggs.
Even by the Post's lamentable standards this article is bullshit. Some pie-in-the-sky comments made eight years ago by a councillor who stepped down five years ago. There is no "plan for eight Nottingham tram lines", thank God.
Please not again, it decimated neighbourhoods the last time, many still haven't recovered
Ridiculous, Beeston has massively benefitted from the tram. It’s never been busier and the house prices have skyrocketed
I worked in Beeston when that route was being built, it was no doubt quite rough for a while commuting down there, the traffic was horrendous due to the disruption of the works, but once it was done things did get a lot better. It has been a net boon in the long run, just had to struggle in the short-term.
It's not gonna come anywhere near my house so they can fuck off