2011
The largest investment in brand new buses for a decade takes place, with £6.4m spent on 56 vehicles (24 Solo SR and 32 of the last Omnidekkas to be built). Go2 Red Line 43, launched only the previous year is the first route to receive new buses, along with the 11 to Lady Bay; 15 and 16 to Bestwood; 87, 88 and 89 to Edwards Lane, Arnold and Rise Park. James Hoole is revealed as the ‘voice of the buses’ and on bus stop announcements are introduced to customers, offering improved journey information for blind and partially sighted travellers, as well as people making new journeys. NCT unveils the Nottingham Electronic Bus Information System in September, with a public launch of the new system which tracks the bus fleet and provides customers with real time information at stops (thanks to partnership work with the local councils), a brand new website and APP and Android applications. The Big Orange Bus is launched in July of the year, with the Mayor of Broxtowe officially launching the enhanced 36 in Beeston Square. NCT’s Go2 brand celebrates 10 years of service on 1st October and is marked with a birthday party in the City Centre and the launch of new Go2 Yellow Line 68, 69 to Basford and Bulwell. Nottingham City Transport Ltd celebrates 25 years of service on October 26th, having previously been part of the City Council. The Company wins the Route One Operator Training Award and Gotham Garage wins Top National Depot in the UK Bus Awards 2011, where NCT is named runner up in the City Operator of the Year category. NCT brands 2 buses for BBC Children in Need and a lucky winner, Richard Westman, who donated £15 to the charity, is given the chance to drive the bus.
2010
NCT works with campaigners from a local Facebook page to develop and introduce new Night Bus N100 to Southwell. The frequency of 15 core routes was enhanced, starting with Yellow Line 68, 69 in March and then routes 2, 24/25, 28, 30, 34, 43, 44, 45, 77, 78, 79 and 89 following through in September. The first new Go2 route for 7 years launches with Go2 Red 43 to Bakersfield replacing Network services 23, 24. A further 18 brand new Scania Omnidekka double decks arrive as accessibility hits 90% DDA compliance. Turquoise Line 77 receives the first 9 in April and 8 follow on to brand new Sky Blue Line 45 in September, when former Gedling circulars 44, 45 are split to improve reliabilty. A new home has been found for a unique piece of Nottingham’s civic history, funded by NCT. A war memorial formerly housed in Trent Bridge Garage is moved to the Galleries of Justice. The first Bus Users UK Bus Surgery takes place in the Old Market Square in the summer. A competition is launched to find the ‘voice of the buses’ with 11 year old James crowned the lucky winner who then records stop announcements ahead of the launch of the new real time system in 2011. Bus driver Phil Rowson wins the first Seasonal Driver Award for NCT. The snow at the end of the year pushes NCT Facebook fan base up considerably and the “Save a Few Squid” campaign is awarded runner up in the annual UK Bus Awards Marketing Campaign.
2009
New ticket machines – The Almex Optima – were trialled at the start of the year and after a successful pilot were rolled out across all buses by September. Skylink Nottingham celebrated its fifth birthday in May, having carried 1.9 million customers since launch in 2004. £3.45m worth of new buses were introduced onto Go2 Navy route 48 between City and Clifton, followed by further investment in new double deck buses for Citylink 1, which NCT retained for a further 5 years after successfully winning the contract for the Park and Ride and Skylink services. Former Yellow Line Solo 248 was transformed into a Mobile Travel Centre, visiting local town centres and events to promote Nottingham City Transport in the community. South Notts “The One” was launched in September, and marked a 100% conversion of the fleet to low floor. Easyrider and Citycard merged to offer one card with hundreds of benefits to all residents of Nottingham. A new Beer by Bus and Tram Guide was launched, in conjunction with CAMRA and partnership with the Royal Centre and Theatre Royal Nottingham saw the introduction of the Royal Ticket, a £1 return ticket to get to and from the theatre. The year ended with Nottingham City Transport picking up the “Winning New Customers” award at the UK Bus Awards 2009, for the West Bridgford Go2 launch campaign.
2008
NCT starts trialling 3 ethanol powered buses on route 30 between the City and Wollaton, in partnership with EMDA and Nottingham City Council. These are the first ethanol powered buses to run in the UK. NCT bus patronage increases to over 50 million passenger journeys. £4.5m invested in 36 brand new buses for West Bridgford, St Ann’s and Pathfinder services. NCT wins the BAA Heathrow Integration Award with Unilink and is runner up with Easyrider & Citycard in the Department for Transport Award Winning New Customers at the UK Bus Awards.
2007
£3m invested in new buses for routes 21, 23, 24 and 36. The Newark Garage is closed, with services transferred to Nottingham’s Trent Bridge Garage. The first stand up comedy act to be performed on a Nottingham bus takes place in May as part of the GOJO campaign to get more young people using public transport. The first 11 NCT managers graduate with their Foundation Degree in Business Management.
2006
In March, South Notts celebrated its 80th birthday. NCT and Challenge Consulting were finalists in the 2006 National Training
Awards scheme after winning the regional title. TGWU drivers strike. In October, the NCT Go2 brand celebrated 5 years of operation and a new logo was launched for the occasion. First teenagers sign Acceptable Behaviour Contracts with police (ABC’s).
2005
NCT pledges a single deck bus to Asia Bus Response, a UK-wide bus industry appeal helping to rebuild communities and livelihoods in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, countries worst-hit by the Asian tsunami. NCT launch Safemark campaign with schools. £2m invested in 17 new double deck buses for Red Go2 route 44, 45. The first 100 NCT employees receive their NVQ Road Transport Award. Unilink is launched in partnership with NTU and Nottingham City Council, running between the City and Clifton NTU Campuses. Easyrider Anytime is runner up in the Innovation Category at the UK Bus Awards.
2004
Public transport in Nottingham is revolutionised with the launch of Nottingham’s tram in March. NCT launches new bus services in Bulwell area to compliment the tram and NCT Easyrider and all day tickets are interchangeable on both NCT buses and trams. CCTV is launched on NCT buses. NCT launches Easyrider Anytime cards and young person’s Easyrider (now known as Easyrider <18). NCT win Bus Operator of the Year 2004 at the Bus Industry Awards. The prestigious Citylink 1, 2 and Skylink contracts are won by NCT.
2003
Concessionary travel entitlement for men is brought in line with women as male eligibility reduces to 60. The first Scania OmnCity single decks in the UK are introduced to regular service on service 35 between City and Bulwell. New Scania OmniDekka buses are introduced on NCT Go2 routes 17, 48 and 77. NCT are short-listed for 2 awards at the Bus Industry Awards – Employee of the Year and The Eureka Award.
2002
NCT introduces bendy buses to Nottingham, running on service 58 between City and Arnold. ACIS Real-time bus system trialled on route 11. As new NCT network reaches 1 year milestone, patronage has increased by 1.5% – the first increase in NCT passenger numbers for 50 years.
2001
In September, NCT introduced the Go2 and Network brands. Go2 services boast a 10 minute daytime frequency. The City Council remained 100% owners until 5% of the ordinary shares, and convertible preference shares to a possible value of another 13% of ordinary shares, were issued to Transdev Plc on 11 May 2001, a member (along with NCT) of the Arrow consortium. The Arrow consortium was formed to facilitate the NET (Nottingham Express Transit), a return of the tram to the streets of Nottingham . What comes around, goes around…
1997
Pathfinder ( Newark ) Limited was bought, giving a presence in the north of the County. Both South Notts and Pathfinder fleet names and liveries are retained within the company.
1991
South Notts was purchased, giving a main route from Nottingham to Loughborough and a garage at Gotham.
1990
Erewash Valley Services Ltd. was integrated into NCT.
1988
NCT purchased Stevenson’s Bus services at Ilkeston and formed a subsidiary company Erewash Valley Services Ltd.
1986
Nottingham City Transport Limited was formed. Deregulation of the bus industry under the Transport Act saw the advent of the minibus and unregulated competition.
1979
All services were one-man operated.
1976
494 operating vehicles within the company.
1974
Company name changed to “City of Nottingham Transport ”.
1972
November saw the first Park and Ride service operated.
1970
In January, one-man operation came into force.
1968
West Bridgford UDC Transport undertaking came under Nottingham ’s control.
1965
Trolleybuses disappeared from Nottingham’s streets in July 1966.
1963
Introduction of high capacity rear engined buses, with a new style body work built to Nottingham specification.
1958
Clifton Bridge was opened in March, with the Clifton services being re-routed over the bridge, this also was the start of the works services to Players, Boots and Raleigh.
1956
Heaters were installed in all cabs.
1954
Guide dogs were allowed to remain on the lower saloon of all vehicles.
1953
Staff recruitment problems surfaced. Newspaper ads and cards in bus windows had little effect, applicants over 40 years of age were now accepted, with the revised maximum age being 55. Some success was gained in employing students as conductors during their vacation. Vandalism rose its ugly head with employees being offered £10 to bring to notice cases of seat slashing which led to a conviction.
1951
The first one person operated bus appeared, although the driver was his own conductor!
1950
By the end of the 1950, trolley buses were in decline, the last new trolley bus joining the fleet in 1952 reaching a maximum fleet
of 155 vehicles.
1939–45
The war brought reduced services, and economy measures (including the trying of diluting diesel with creosote!) and blackout screens on vehicles. It wasn’t until after the war, that large deliveries of diesel buses took place, allowing the withdrawal of the last petrol engined buses.
1936
The trams finally gave way to progression with the last tram running on 6th September between Daybrook Square and Cater Gate Depot (the current Parliament Street Garage Head Office).
1935
The diesel bus had proved its worth and there were no more conversions from tram to trolleybus. The trolley bus fleet having reached its peak at 106 vehicles the largest fleet in the country.
1931
The summer, saw the issue of straw hats to all drivers and the introduction of late night services from dances, with some principal routes extended until 11.20pm.
1929
In June, the Parliament Street depot opened and is still used by NCT today. Goose Fair moved from the Market Square to the Forest site.
1927
After a visit to Birmingham in 1924 it was recommended to replace a single tramline route with trolleybuses. The first trolley bus operating in Nottingham was on 10 April 1927 and served Nottingham Road to Basford. The Derby Road tram line extended to Wollaton Park gates.
1926
Transfer tickets were extended to cover the Bagthorpe and Sherwood trams. The Woodborough Road tram line extended beyond the City boundary to Westdale Lane.
1919
On 18 January 1919, Child fares were introduced for a 1/2d. The number of standing passengers was limited to 10.
1915
Driver medicals were introduced, after a driver dropped dead at Bulwell before he took his car out. Sun and rain blinds were introduced to help give the drivers some protection from the weather. The Sherwood tram line was extended through to Arnold and the first female conductress was employed in October 1915.
1914
The Carlton Road line is extended to Carlton and the new Derby Road tram route was completed and opened.
1912
Service numbers were introduced for the first time on to the tram services. These were: 1 Sherwood to Trent Bridge; 2 Mapperley to Trent Bridge; 3 Bulwell to Trent Bridge; 4 Basford to Colwick Road; 5 Nottingham Road to Radford and Lenton; 6 St Ann’s Well Road to Lenton and Radford; 7 Wilford Road to London Road; 8 Carlton Road to Market Place.
1911
Increasing electricity consumption led to the fitting of meters to all of the trams. Following a 6 month trial period, electricity consumption reduced and drivers and conductors who used the least benefited from a share of the cost savings generated. A commemorative tram car – decorated and illuminated – travelled across the system to celebrate the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary.
1910
A new tram line to Carlton Road opens on 16th December, terminating at Thorneywood Lane – now known as Porchester Road.
1908
An agreement was reached with the Notts & Derbyshire Tramways Company for construction of a line from City to Cinderhill to connect with the existing lines at Basford, allowing for through connections.
1907
A new tram service between the Market Place and Colwick Road opens.
1906
Motorbuses were first introduced on 26th March between the Market Place and Carlton Road (Crown Hotel). Two buses were required to run the service, a third kept in reserve. Track laying for the new line to Colwick Road via Bath Street and Manvers Street began.
1905
The opening of the new Midland Railway Station resulted in the loss of the old Station Street Station and tram passenger numbers dropped considerably, leading to service reductions. Church authorities made several requests for Sunday morning services to be suspended, but this was declined.
1904
In July, free travel for children under the age of 3 was introduced.
1902
February sees the introduction of electric trams between the new Market Place and St Ann’s Well Road. Further tram lines opened to Mapperley (May), Nottingham Road (July), Lenton via Castle Boulevard, Lenton Boulevard and Radford Boulevard (September) and Wilford Road (November). The horse drawn tram line to Forest Road was cancelled at the end of April 1902 and the two tram cars from the line were sold to Leicester Corporation.
1901
On 1 January, the first electric tram ran between Sherwood and the Market Place. In July, electric trams replaced horse trams on the extended line to Bulwell and in October, the Trent Bridge tram route was also electrified. Construction of a new tram depot at Trent Bridge also commenced. Construction of the new St Ann’s Well Road line commenced in October, this being the first new electric line (the others all being conversions of, or extensions of horse drawn lines).
1900
Services were suspended due to ‘pink eye’ in the horses. Construction of the Sherwood Depot began in May and the first 9 electric trams arrived for assembly at the Sherwood Depot in October.
1898
A proposal was made to electrify the system, with 8 proposed routes outlined.
1897
Nottingham Council took over the Nottingham Tramway Company on 16th October.
1881
The Basford Line opened running from the Market Place via Alfreton Road and Radford Road. Colour coding was introduced to Nottingham. Yellow painted cars went to Trent Bridge, Red to Carrington and Dark Blue to Basford. Summer cars were green and steam cars were brown. The average working week of tram crews was 80-90 hours.
1880
Trials with a steam tram along Derby Road were undertaken.
1879
The second tram route opened on 5th April, running between the Market Place and Mansfield Road in Carrington, with a branch along Forest Road. On 11th August, the third tram route opened connecting the Market Place with Basford Gas Works.
1878
At 3pm on 17th September, the Nottingham and District Tramways Company introduced the first horse drawn tramcars to the City. The first routes were from the St Peter’s Church in the City Centre to Trent Bridge and to London Road. There were 8 single deck trams used.
1877
The Board of Trade makes a Provisional Order – known as the Nottingham and District Tramways Order – to start running the first route.
1875
The Borough of Nottingham considers running a tramway.
1848
Horse drawn buses started to operate in Nottingham.