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Committed to connecting communities across the city and beyond, Nottingham Express Transit( NET) has become a vital part of everyday life in Nottingham, UK. Since its establishment in 2004, NET’ s network has grown into a modern, reliable tram system spanning 32 kilometers, with 51 stops, seven park-and-ride sites, and a fleet of 37 trams carrying more than 15 million passengers per year. Operating as a part of the Keolis Group, NET is underpinned by a unique partnership model and ensures green, convenient, and inclusive transport options for all.
To learn more about NET’ s operations and continued innovation, Transportation & Logistics International sits down with Sarah Turner, Managing Director, who shares insight into how the company is thriving now despite a tricky 2025. To begin, however, Sarah discusses the monumental impact that the network’ s 2011 expansion had on the city and its communities.
“ The expansion was always part of our longterm plan. The building work started in 2011, and the network was opened for passenger service in 2015. The expansion was part of the private finance initiative, so it was designed, built, and now operates under Tramlink,” she recounts.
“ The network itself almost doubled in size. The expansion was transformational; it added a further 17.5 kilometers and 28 new stops to connect people to the city. One of the new stops feeds the Queen’ s Medical Centre – Nottingham’ s largest hospital – and actually made us the first tram network to serve a hospital, which has been a real lifesaver for people. It’ s also improved access to education. We have a large student population in Nottingham, and the network helps them to move across the city, connecting them to their different campuses and accommodations.
“ Alongside this, the expansion has reduced car journeys, thus reducing congestion and carbon emissions, but most importantly, it has connected more neighborhoods across the city,” Sarah affirms.“ I believe that we’ re the only tram network in the UK that is fully accessible; there are no barriers for people using our system. I speak to people who say that the tram system is a lifeline for them and without it, they wouldn’ t have the independence that they do. It really is a fantastic service.”
Building upon its 20-plus-year legacy, NET remains committed to people, reliability, and continuous improvement. Over the past year, the company has focused on
I believe that we’ re the only tram network in the UK that is fully accessible; there are no barriers for people using our system strengthening its service, listening closely to its customers, and responding effectively during challenges. This dedication translates into real, quantitative metrics that reflect both consistent performance and a culture that always prioritizes doing the right thing, even under pressure.
“ Our customer satisfaction is really high,” Sarah affirms.“ We have a 95 percent reliability rate and an overall satisfaction score of 85 percent, against the backdrop of the wider transport sector which sits at an average of 71.5 percent. Even after a year of turbulence, our customer satisfaction is improving, and I think a lot of that comes down to how we deal with disruption – how we focus and collaborate with our communities to deliver the best service we can. Even when things go wrong, we always put our customers first. I think that is worth celebrating.”
This unwavering focus on customer experience defines every aspect of NET’ s
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