Nottingham Express Transit 2 - A turnkey project for the UK

The Tramlink Nottingham consortium, of which Alstom is a member, was awarded the Nottingham Express Transit 2 contract on 15 December. 

This contract represents a major breakthrough for Alstom, who will introduce 22 Alstom-built Citadis trams to the UK, a product that has already seen success in Dublin and other cities throughout the world. It also provides Alstom with a new platform on which to build its infrastructure activity.

The first stage of the project was to welcome a new maintenance depot into the Alstom fold. At the Nottingham tram maintenance depot, the team ensures 13 of the citys existing fleet of 15 trams are made available for service at peak times each day, plus one spare. Drawing on expertise in infrastructure and turnkey projects, Alstom have started a 36-month design and construction programme to deliver two new lines and install power and signalling, extending the existing network by 17.5km. This work is managed in a joint venture with Taylor Woodrow (Vinci) who will handle the civil works. 

The Alstom team will increase to about 25 during the design phase, which has already started. The construction phase will begin with track laying in the second half of 2012, with the team eventually totalling 100+ people during the height of this work. Track laying will include the use of Appitrack, which recently received an award in the UK for new technology. Alstom will also design and install the power supply and signalling systems, with installation of signalling equipment managed through its joint venture Signalling Solutions Ltd. 

Existing trams and track will be upgraded in preparation for new signalling to be adopted, which will be common to the two new lines, and the maintenance depot will be significantly extended in time for the arrival of the new Citadis trams before the end of 2013. Passenger services across the whole of the expanded tram network are planned to be fully operational by the end of 2014.