Nottingham City Transport
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nottingham City Transport is the major bus operator of the English city of Nottingham, running a comprehensive network of services in the Nottingham City area and a handful of services beyond the boundaries of the conurbanation to Southwell, Newark, Loughborough, and East Midlands Airport.
Until recently, the company was the largest remaining municipal bus company in England (the largest in the United Kingdom being Edinburgh's Lothian), and is regarded as one of the best operators in the UK. NCT has won awards including Bus Operator of the Year, and the UK Bus Industry's Innovation Award for its pioneering EasyRider smartcard system. Transdev has had a 17% stake in the company since 2000.
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[edit] History
Horse drawn buses operated in Nottingham from 1848. The Nottingham and District Tramways Company Limited opened its first routes in 1878 with horse drawn trams and experimented with steam traction a few years later. The company was taken over by Nottingham Corporation Tramways in 1898 and electrification followed with the first electric trams operating in January 1901 and within 2 years over 100 trams were in service on 8 lines. The first motorbuses were introduced in 1906. Trolleybuses in were introduced in 1927 and by 1930 a number of routes had been converted from trams to trolleybuses. A new bus depot was opened in June 1929 on Parliament Street and is still in use today.
By 1935 the trolley bus fleet had reached its peak at 106 vehicles - the largest fleet in the country. The last tram ran in September 1936. World War II brought reduced services, and economy measures (including the trying of diluting diesel with creosote) and blackout screens on vehicles. Before the war some diesel-engined buses were introduced to the services, although it wasn't until after the war, that large deliveries of diesel-engined buses took place, allowing the withdrawal of the last petrol-engined buses.
By the end of the 1950s, trolley buses were in decline, the last new trolley bus joining the fleet in 1952 reaching a maximum fleet of 155 vehicles. The first one person operated bus appeared in 1951. In 1954 guide dogs were allowed to remain on the lower saloon of all vehicles and heaters were installed in all cabs in 1956. Trolleybuses disappeared between April 1965 and July 1966, and the West Bridgford UDC Transport undertaking came under Nottingham's control in 1968. One-man operation came into force in January 1970 and by 1977 nearly all services were one-man operated. 1974 saw a name change to "City of Nottingham Transport" and by 1976 an all time high of 494 operated vehicles was reached.
The deregulation of the industry under the Transport Act happened in 1986 and Nottingham City Transport Limited was formed. In 1988 the Company purchased Stevenson's Bus Services at Ilkeston and formed a subsidiary company Erewash Valley Services Ltd, these services were integrated with the main company in 1990. In 1991, South Notts was purchased, giving a main route from Nottingham to Loughborough and a garage at Gotham, and in 1997, Pathfinder (Newark) Limited was bought, giving a presence in the north of the County. Both fleet names and liveries are retained within the company. Nottingham City Council remained 100% owners, despite many offers to buy NCT, until 11 May 2001, when 5% of the ordinary shares, and convertible preference shares to a possible value of another 13% of ordinary shares, were issued to Transdev plc, a member (along with NCT) of the Arrow consortium, who were formed to facilitate the Nottingham Express Transit (NET), a return of the tram to the streets of Nottingham.
[edit] Easyrider smartcard
Easyrider was introduced in 2000, the first 'smartcard' system to be introduced in the UK. The contactless smartcard is passed over a reader on boarding the bus, and either deducts the fare for the journey, or removes a day of pre-paid travel from the balance on the card. Approximately 50% of journeys made on NCT are paid for by an Easyrider card.
[edit] Fleet
- 90 Optare Solo
- 7 Scania OmniTown
- 54 Scania OmniCity (including 5 articulated buses)
- 54 Dennis Trident 2
- 27 Volvo Olympian
- 23 Optare Excel
- 84 Scania N94UD OmniDekka
[edit] Firsts
Nottingham City Transport have introduced many new bus models and transport concepts over the years, including:
- Converting the first Scania OmniCity for right-hand drive operation.
- Converting the first Scania OmniLink for right-hand drive operation.
- Introduction of EasyRider contactless smartcard, the first in the UK.
[edit] Improvement of service
In September 2001, NCT controversially changed most bus routes, truncating cross-city routes, and introducing new and retimes services across Greater Nottingham, which at the time were badly received but after 12 months, most agreed that the new services were an improvement. However, the new services still make cross-city journeys awkward.
[edit] Security
Nottingham City Transport have installed CCTV on most of their fleet, and install in general more cameras per bus than other operators. Double decker buses usually have around 8 cameras each, while even the very smallest buses still have 4 each. New buses also have LCD screens installed, so passengers can see what is being recorded. NCT are active participants in Nottingham's Respect for Transport campaign, and random 'Gateway checks' are often held on buses, where police and revenue inspectors board to check tickets. Police have been known to arrest wanted persons on board buses during gateway checks.
[edit] Routes
NCT Services:
Green Line:
- 5 Gamston to Nottingham via Melton Road, West Bridgford, Trent Bridge.
- 'Go2' 6 Edwalton to Nottingham via West Bridgford, Trent Bridge.
- 7 Gamston to Nottingham via Abbey Park, West Bridgford, Trent Bridge.
- 8 Wilford Hill to Nottingham via ASDA, Landmere Lane, Compton Acres, Rushcliffe Leisure Centre, West Bridgford, Trent Bridge. (LOOP).
- 9 Wilford Hill to Nottingham via ASDA, Landmere Lane, Compton Acres, Rushcliffe Leisure Centre, West Bridgford, Trent Bridge. (LOOP).
- 'Go2' 10 Ruddington to Nottingham via South Nottingham College, ASDA, Trent Bridge.
- 'Go2' 11 Trent Boulevard to Nottingham via Lady Bay, Trent Bridge, Meadows.
Navy Line:
- 'South Notts' 1 Loughborough to Nottingham via East Leake, Gotham, Clifton, Wilford Green, Trent Bridge.
- 2 Clifton to Nottingham via Holy Trinity, South Nottingham College, Wilford Green, Trent Bridge.
- 3 Clifton to Nottingham via Clifton Shopping Centre, Rivergreen, Wilford Green, Trent Bridge.
- 'UniLink' 4 NTU Clifton to NTU City via Clifton, Wilford Green, Trent Bridge, City Centre.
- 'Go2' 48 Clifton to Nottingham via Holy Trinity, Clifton Shopping Centre, Queens Drive, Meadows.
Maroon Line:
- 13 Beeston to Nottingham via University & Castle Boulevard.
- 14 Chilwell to Nottingham via Beeston, University & Castle Boulevard.
Orange Line:
- 'UniLink' 34 University Of Nottingham to Nottingham via Q.M.C, Canning Circus.
- 35 Bulwell to Nottingham via Broxtowe, Strelley, Bilborough, Wollaton, Q.M.C, Canning Circus.
- 'Go2' 36 Chilwell to Nottingham via Beeston, Q.M.C, Canning Circus.
- 37 Queens Medical Centre to Nottingham via Derby Road, Canning Circus.
Pink Line:
- 'Go2' 28 Bilborough to Nottingham via Beechdale, Ilkeston Road.
- 29 Bilborough to Nottingham via Glaisdale Parkway, Trowell Road Co-op, Ilkeston Road.
- 30 Wollaton to Nottingham via Ilkeston Road.
- 193 Beeston to Nottingham via Wollaton, Ilkeston Road.
Turquoise Line:
- 'Go2' 77 Strelley to Nottingham via Alferton Road, Aspley Lane.
- 78 Strelley to Nottingham via Aspley, Nuthall Road.
- 79 Bulwell to Nottingham via Bells Lane, Nuthall Road.
- 80 Bulwell to Nottingham via Piccadilly, City Hospital, Nottingham Road, Hyson Green, Canning Circus.
- 81 Bulwell to Nottingham via Basford Crossings, Hyson Green, Canning Circus.
Yellow Line:
- 68 Snape Wood to Nottingham via Hempshill Vale, Bulwell, Basford Crossings, Sherwood Rise. (LOOP).
- 69 Snape Wood to Nottingham via Hempshill Vale, Bulwell, Basford Crossings, Sherwood Rise. (LOOP).
- 70 Arnold to Nottingham via Rise Park, Bulwell, Basford, Sherwood Rise.
- 71 Arnold to Nottingham via Rise Park, Bulwell, Basford, Sherwood Rise.
- 72 Assarts Farm to Nottingham via Basford, Sherwood Rise.
Pathfinder:
- 'Fosseway Flyer' 90 Newark to Nottingham via Farndon, A46, Gamston, Trent Bridge.
- 'Southwell Sprinter' 100 Southwell to Nottingham via Lowdham, Burton Joyce, Carlton Hill.
Brown Line:
- 15 Rise Park to Nottingham via Top Valley (Harvester), Bestwood, City Hospital, Sherwood.
- 16 Rise Park to Nottingham via Top Valley (Tesco), City Hospital, Sherwood.
- 'Go2' 17 Bulwell to Nottingham via Bulwell Forest, City Hospital, Sherwood.
Purple Line:
- 87 Arnold to Nottingham via Redhill, City Hospital, Sherwood.
- 88 Rise Park to Nottingham via Top Valley, City Hospital, Sherwood.
- 'Go2' 89 Rise Park to Nottingham via Bestwood Park, City Hospital, Sherwood.
Lime Line:
- 56 Arnold to Nottingham via Plains Estate, Sherwood.
- 'Go2' 58 Arnold (Killisick) to Nottingham via Arnold Town Centre, Sainsburys, Daybrook, Sherwood.
- 59 Arnold (Killisick) to Nottingham via Arnold Town Centre, Sherwood.
Red Line:
- 'Go2' 44 Gedling to Nottingham via Colwick, Netherfield, Mapperley, Woodborough Road. (LOOP).
- 'Go2' 45 Gedling to Nottingham via Woodborough Road, Mapperley, Netherfield, Colwick. (LOOP).
Blue Line:
- 40 City Hospital to Nottingham via Sherwood, St. Ann's.
- 40A Edwards Lane Estate to Nottingham via Sherwood, St. Ann's.
- 41 St. Ann's to Nottingham.
- 42 St. Ann's to Nottingham.
Lilac Line:
- 'Go2' 21 Carlton Valley to Nottingham via Gordon Road, Thorneywood.
- 23 Bakersfield to Nottingham via Windmill, Sneinton.
- 24 Bakersfield to Nottingham via Greenwood Road, Windmill, Sneinton.
- 25 Arnold to Nottingham via Sainsburys, Daybrook, Mapperley, Westdale Lane, Carlton Hill.
- 26 Lowdham to Nottingham via Burton Joyce, Carlton Hill (ONE JOURNEY TO NOTTINGHAM).
- 'Go2' 27 Carlton to Nottingham via Cavendish Road, Carlton Hill.
Grey Line:
- 51 Arnold to Beeston via Top Valley (Tesco), Morrisons, Bulwell, Basford, Aspley, Bilborough, Wollaton.
- 53 Clifton to Arnold via Ring Road, Q.M.C, Ring Road, City Hospital, Daybrook, Sainsburys.
Other Service:
- 93 Strelley to Nottingham via Bilborough, Glaisdale Drive, Beechdale, Ring Road, Q.M.C, Canning Circus.
- 94 Aspley to Nottingham via Broxtowe, Beechdale, Radford, Alfreton Road, Canning Circus.
- 160 Lenton to Nottingham via Castle Boulevard.
- 161 Queens Drive Industrial Estate to Nottingham via Crossgate Drive.
- 192 Wollaton to Nottingham via Ilkeston Road, Canning Circus.
NCT also operate the city's Park and Ride services:
- CityLink 1: City to Boots HQ via Queens Drive Industrial Estate and Queens Drive Park and Ride
- CityLink 2: City to Victoria Park via Racecourse Park and Ride and Colwick Industrial Estate
NCT's New Night Rider Buses from November 2007:
- N6 Gamston to Nottingham via West Bridgford, Central Avenue and Trent Bridge.
- N27 Mapperley to Nottingham via Westdale Lane, Carlton, Carlton Hill, Sneinton.
- N28 Wollaton Vale to Nottingham via Bilborough, Beechdale, Ilkeston Road.
- N36 Chilwell to Nottingham via Beeston, Nottingham University, Derby Road.
- N48 Ruddington to Nottingham via Clifton, Meadows.
- N58 Arnold to Nottingham via Daybrook, Sherwood.
- N77 Bulwell to Nottingham via Strelley, Aspley Lane, Alferton Road.
- N89 Rise Park to Nottingham via Bestwood Park, Sherwood.
Local Link Buses:
- 190 University Of Nottingham to City Hospital via Q.M.C, Radford Boulevard, Hyson Green and Basford.
- 191 Silverdale to Nottingham via Wilford Village, Wilford Green, Trent Bridge.
- 195 Wollaton Park Estate to Nottingham via Q.M.C, Castle Boulevard.
- 196 Bulwell to Bulwell via Morrisons, Norwich Gardens, Bulwell Hall.
- 197 Gamston to Silverdale via West Bridgford, Ruddington, Clifton.
- 198 Woodthorpe Court to Woodthorpe Court via Mapperley, Sherwood.
- 199 Bestwood Park to Nottingham via Arnold, City Hospital, Sherwood, Woodthorpe Court, Mapperley, Thorneywood.
NCT also run the NET.
[edit] Competitors
[edit] External links
- Nottingham City Transport official website
- NCT on The Open Guide to Nottingham
- Blog about the recruitment process, driver training, and general life as a bus driver
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