BIDS SUBMITTED FOR CLIFTON’S TRAM

Two bus companies bidding for the contact to take over the extension to Nottingham’s tram system have handed in their proposals. The city’s two biggest bus operators, Nottingham City Transport and Trent Barton, are competing against each other for the £400 million project to extend lines to Clifton via Silverdale and Chilwell.
Nottingham City Transport have teamed-up with train-maker Bombardier under the name Arrow Connect, while Trent Barton are working with Alstom and Keolis and submitted their bid as Tramlink Nottingham.
The successful bid is expected to be unveiled by Nottingham City Council later this year, with construction due to start in autumn 2011. Completion of the project and operation of the two new lines is expected by late 2014.
Matthew Crosse, is the bid director for Arrow Connect, and he told The Local News: “Arrow Connect has the experience to deliver the very high standards set for NET Phase Two. We will build on our experience from line one and use our knowledge and expertise to design, build and operate the new network to ensure passengers continue to enjoy a superb service and local people benefit from the employment opportunities arising.”
Tramlink Nottingham spokesman, Ian Morgan, added: “There is no doubt that the city of Nottingham deserves a world-class tram network and we are excited by the prospect of delivering just that.”