Agenda and minutes

Andrew Holdstock summarised to the report of the Director Nottingham Express Transit (NET) relating to the performance for the period November 2013 - January 2014.

(a)  Operational Matters

  Performance

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.

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.

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.

(b)  Ticketing and Marketing

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:

•  The introduction of monthly/quarterly/half - year/full year season tickets for £45/£135/£260/£450;

•  The ability of patrons to purchase a monthly season ticket at a reduced price of £40, after the introduction of off - tram ticketing.

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.

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.

(c)  Construction and Engineering

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.

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.

(d)  Parking

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.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Lea Harrison provided an update on current issues being considered/ developed by Tramlink Nottingham.  These included:

•  off - tram ticketing and the various measures to support this (including the removal of the 4.00 – 6.00 pm peak - time travel restriction on free travel for Nottinghamshire concessionary pass holders);

•  Night - time testing of those trams which had already been delivered.

RESOLVED to note the update.

Andrew Holdstock introduced a report of the Director, NET.  The report set out the existing membership arrangements for the Advisory Committee and suggested that the impending implementation of Phase 2 was an appropriate time to re-examine and update the membership of the Advisory Committee, to ensure it remains relevant and represented the views of the joining authorities such as Broxtowe and Ashfield District Councils, and, where appropriate, significant user locations, such as Queens Medical Centre and the University of Nottingham.

The Advisory Committee supported a review of the composition of the body including, in principle, an expansion in representation to reflect the issues which are of current interest to the City Council, local user groups and partners, providing that any expansion would enhance the role/work of the Advisory Committee

RESOLVED to support a review of the current representation on the Advisory Committee and consider a further report At the next meeting, provisionally scheduled for 10 June 2014.

Andrew Holdstock advised the meeting that a current absence of appropriate accommodation at the Wilkinson Street depot and the nature of the Advisory Committee as a public meeting meant that a consecutive tour of facilities and Advisory Committee meeting could not be held at the depot.  Dates for a separate Advisory Committee visit to the venue were therefore canvassed.

RESOLVED that, if available, councillors and user group representatives assemble at the Wilkinson Street tram stop at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday 2 April 2014 for a tour of the facilities

RESOLVED to note to meetings of the advisory committee for 2014/15 in Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham at 2.00 p.m. on the following Tuesday's:

  2014  2015

  10 June  10 March

    9 September

    9 December