Andrew Holdstock summarised to the report of the Director
Nottingham Express Transit (NET) relating to the performance for
the period November 2013 - January 2014.
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(a) Operational
Matters
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Performance
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Average reliability and punctuality of the tram system for the
period continued to be high with 99.31% timetabled trips running
and 97.14% of services departing on time.
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The
slight reductions in the reliability and performance, compared to
previous months, are due, in part, to ongoing work to install new
communications equipment on the existing trams, which mean that one
tram will always be out of service until completion of the work, in
the summer.
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Some delays continue to be experienced by trams on Radford
Road. As a result, further work on the
feasibility of re-phasing the traffic signals at the junction with
Gregory Boulevard will be undertaken together with an assessment of
how access/egress to the ASDA site can
be improved. If any improvement works
can be identified, their implementation will be dependent on the availability of
funding.
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(b) Ticketing and
Marketing
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Pro-active marketing activities and tickets checks by tram staff
have contributed to an increase of 6% in quarterly year - on - year
demand for tram tickets. Work on the
installation of off - tram ticketing machines and validators
continues and customers are being kept advised of the impending
changes and the effects for them. Other recent initiatives
include:
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• The
introduction of monthly/quarterly/half - year/full year season
tickets for £45/£135/£260/£450;
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• The ability of
patrons to purchase a monthly season ticket at a reduced price of
£40, after the introduction of off - tram
ticketing.
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The
meeting was reminded that the reduction was time-limited and that,
ultimately, the company wished to move as many patrons as possible
towards the option of purchasing a longer- term season-ticket as
this was likely to save them money.
Assessing Nottingham's performance against that of
other cities with similar transport
choices was difficult as the effects of the network size on usage
levels could not be easily be taken account of.
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A
programme of information for free use of the tram by older people
and other pass holders will also assist during the changeover
period and with the concept of off - tram ticketing. Concessionary fare usage times will be clarified
to avoid confusion, and a six-week transitional period will be
operated whilst users became used to the new system.
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(c) Construction
and Engineering
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The
inquest into the fatality at the Bayles and Wylies level crossing
had returned a verdict of accidental death, with no blame being
attributed to the tram driver. No
additional recommendations had been made by the
coroner. The issue of additional
lighting on the new replacement footbridge had been raised with
Network Rail and Nottinghamshire County Council.
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As
part of the River Leen Strategy, a new footpath and cycle path is
to be constructed alongside the Tramway, between Wilkinson Street
and Church Street, Basford. The path,
jointly funded by Nottingham Local Sustainable Transport Fund and
sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, will link existing and
proposed facilities along the Leen corridor and will provide a
further opportunity to promote cycle hubs at NET park and ride
sites.
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(d)
Parking
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The
Advisory Committee maintained its interest in the use of parking
spaces at park-and-ride sites and the correlation between parking
usage and tram patronage levels.
Evaluation of originating points for tram uses between local and
further afield was continuing.
Enforcement of parking arrangements on - site will be via use of
bylaws and security staff in a managed way, once Phase Two
operations have commenced.
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RESOLVED
to note the report.
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