NET GAINS IN NOTTINGHAM

摘要

Nottingham opened two new tram lines on August 25 - and surprised everyone by doing so at less than 24 hours notice. Phase two of the Nottingham Express Transit scheme has allowed the network to expand in two directions - south to a new terminus at Clifton, and in a westerly direction through Beeston, terminating at Toton Lane, Sandiacre. As part of a £570million project, the original city centre terminus at Station Street has closed and a new tram station has opened on the new bowstring bridge that spans Nottingham Midland station, offering step-free access to the station and street level. The extensions go their different ways just south of the railway station on the edge of the Meadows area. The Clifton line is 4.7 miles long, and crosses the River Trent using the former Wilford toll bridge, now strengthened and widened, with two tram lines as well as a route for cyclists and pedestrians. From Coronation Avenue to just under the A52 Clifton Boulevard, the tram line uses part of the former Great Central Railway alignment before turning right towards Clifton. It then runs along Southchurch Drive and Farnborough Road before terminating at Clifton South. Here, a free 1,100-space car park has been built next to the recently dualled A453. On the Clifton section are 12 tram stops, so the potential exists for some four million journeys a year. Journey time from the park & ride site to the main railway station is 21 minutes, or 24min to the Old Market Square, with a frequency of 7-10min from 07.00 to 21.00. The new second line extends 6.1 miles and after the split runs alongside Queen's Drive it then makes a right turn to cross the Midland Main Line for a second time, using a new bridge near Lenton South Junction, and on to a stop at the Queens Medical Centre, probably one of the main destinations for this line, clearly aimed at staff, patients and visitors; it provides the potential to reduce traffic in this frenetic area of the city.