War of words over future direction of city tram network

BUS BOSSES FIGHTING PLANS FOR EXTENSION

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

THE boss of a major local bus company says he and other operators are fighting plans for an extension of the city’s “loss-making” tram network.

A £300,000 study was recently commissioned into the best locations for the NET network to expand to in a significant step forward following years of discussion.

But Tom Morgan, who has been the managing director of Trentbarton for the last two years, says the bus network could achieve the same goals at a fraction of the price.

Mr Morgan told the Post: "Even the tram’s own figures [show] it's not a sustainable business model.

"It loses money every year. Why would you want to do more of something that’s so clearly loss-making when it’s currently being achieved by something that costs the taxpayer nothing at all?"

The Nottingham tram network's boss says Mr Morgan's comments are “disappointing” and that he believes a diverse public transport network with lots of options is in everyone’s best interests.

The East Midlands Combined Authority (EMCCA), the devolved authority covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, led by East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, was the organisation that recently commissioned the major tram study.

Asked by the Post to provide more details on the study, the EMCCA outlined three locations that could be considered among several options for expansion. The first would see the tram extend to Gedling, while the second and third options could see the network expand to serve either the ongoing Fairham Pastures development near Clifton or the potential Chetwynd Barracks development in Chilwell.

East Midlands Airport is another location regularly floated as a potential new tram destination, whilst the network's boss even suggested an extension to Derby at one stage.

Mr Morgan said on the latter plan: