Tramlink Nottingham Selected as Preferred Bidder for City Tram Extension

Work has begun on a five month programme to finalise details of the high-profile contract to deliver a major extension to Nottingham’s tram system.

Nottingham City Council has announced that the Tramlink Nottingham consortium has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the NET Phase Two project which will provide two new lines and expand the existing network by 17.5 km.

Tramlink Nottingham comprises three major international companies, two leading equity investment partners and a top flight local transport operator, and the organisation’s Chairman Roger Harrison said: “We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder. Our focus now will be on working with the City Council to ensure NET Phase Two can be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

“We have put together an extremely strong partnership and we are confident of being able to create a network which will not only be efficient and effective in terms of meeting the city’s transport needs but which will also help to take Nottingham’s international status to a new level.”

The Consortium includes Alstom, VINCI PLC, Keolis and Wellglade (owners of local bus operator’s Trent Barton) as industry partners and Meridiam and OFI Infravia as financial investors.

The contract for the 23-year concession project is due to be finalised in late summer, at which point Tramlink Nottingham would immediately take over the operation and maintenance of the existing 14.5km line one system. Construction of the new lines could begin by the end of the year whilst passenger services across the whole network could be fully operational by the end of 2014.

Roger Harrison explained: “The construction phase will present significant technical challenges and our partnership with VINCI PLC, means we are more than able to marshal all the resources necessary in order to provide a first class, dependable physical infrastructure.

“Alstom will draw on its expertise in infrastructure and turnkey projects for the construction of the new track, power, signalling and the supply and maintenance of 22 Citadis trams as well as the maintenance of the existing 15 Phase One trams.

“Meanwhile in Keolis (UK) and Trent Barton, our consortium has partners with proven track records in operating efficient, effective and reliable transport systems – ones which consistently attract high passenger satisfaction ratings. The contract is Keolis' first tram project in the UK and reinforces the group's position as the world's largest tram operator.

“We are joined by our two well-established financial equity partners; Meridiam is a leading long term infrastructure fund committed to investing in the project over its life and InfraVia is an infrastructure fund whose main sponsors are mutual insurance companies”

He added: “The project will be a major boost to the local economy and we are looking forward to working with the City Council, stakeholders and other agencies to ensure we maximise local job, training and business opportunities.

“We now move onto the next stage of the tender process and very much hope that at the end of it we can quickly start work on delivering a tram system which fully meets Nottingham’s aspirations.”

Published: 30/03/2011