The rails on the NET system are pre-coated with rubberized material to reduce noise, with chips embedded into the top surface of this to enhance skid-resistance.

On-street, they are set onto a concrete track-bed, topped with various new road surfaces through the city centre, while off-street, rails are set on sleepers on top of standard railway ballast. The track gauge is 1435mm or 4ft 8¾ins - the same as a standard railway gauge.

Off-street, the NET track alignment runs to the west of and closley follows the Robin Hood Line between Hucknall and Basford. A short spur line runs from Highbury Vale to a park and ride site at Phoenix Park just off the M1. Between Hucknall and Bulwell stations, there is one way for trams and trains, but the rest of the NET system - bar the spur to Cinderhill and a loop system around Hyson Green - is two-way running.

Basford/Hyson Green

• NET leaves the Robin Hood Line alignment after passing beneath the A6514 Ring Road (Western Boulevard) to the rear of Leodegarius Church and just west of the Ring Road's intersection with Radford Road. There is a new platform built to carry the track between the pinch-point of the bridge arches, the railway line and the River Leen.
• The tram tracks climb a new embankment up to the road level of Wilkinson Street, where the Park and Ride stop is located. Other road traffic will continue to be able to travel along Wilkinson Street in both directions.
• Headed into the city, the tram travels along Radford Road, with stops just before Beaconsfield Street and outside Hyson Green market place. It is intended that other road users are still be able to use Radford Road in both directions.
• The tram then swings down Terrace Street along the back of Asda before returning to dual running. Here, northbound trams run up Noel Street, with stops just above the Terrace Street junction and near the Beaconsfield junction, before crossing the remodelled playground off Gladstone Street, with a stop on Shipstone Street, and rejoining Wilkinson Street. Other road users are also only be able to use Noel Street in a northerly direction.

The Forest

• Back at the junction of Terrace Street/Noel Street, trams diagonally cross Gregory Boulevard and run onto the edge of The Forest and its Park and Ride stop. It stays on the grass until the junction of Bentinck Road, where it rejoins the road and runs up the hill of Mount Hooton Road. Other road traffic can no longer travel directly between Gregory Boulevard and Forrest Road and visa versa - all traffic has to use Bentinck road.
• The tram then crosses Forest Road and onto Waverley Street, where it leaves the road and stops at a platform which takes up part of what is now the Vernon Arms car park and some High School land. This section down to Shakespeare Street is expected to be two-way for all road users.

The Arboretum/Nottingham Trent University/Theatre Square

• Passing the Arboretum, NET runs through Nottingham Trent University's city centre campus, stopping outside its new library building on Goldsmith Street. Here,there is a ban on non-essential vehicles on the section between Shakespeare Street and Chaucer Street.
• Trams continue onto the pedestrianised stretch of Goldsmith Street (on the other side of Talbot Street) which runs between the Royal Centre and the Royal Hotel. A stop straddles Wollaton Street - closing it as a through-route - and a new, enlarged plaza has been developed on Theatre Square, which includes a statue of Carmen.

Market Street/Old Market Square

• Crossing Parliament Street, where the subway has been filled in and replaced by surface-level crossings the tram runs down Market Street - where current restrictions for other traffic remain in place - and onto the paved section at the western end of the Old Market Square, before turning the corner into South Parade and stopping centrally between the end of South Parade and the front of the Council House. The location of this stop is marked by a NET logo set into the pavement. Buses and taxis, the only vehicles previously allowed into this area, have been re-routed as part of the construction process and in line with the proposed implementation of a Clear Zone in the city centre.
• The tram will then travel along Cheapside/Poultry, up Victoria Street, which will still be one-way westbound for other vehicles, and turn the sharp bend into Fletcher Gate.

Fletcher Gate/Weekday Cross

• On Fletcher Gate, there is a stop close to Warser Gate. The junction of Victoria Street and Carlton Street has been remodelled to create a new north-south bus route along Fletcher Gate and George Street, and it is proposed that current traffic restrictions will remain in place.
• The tram then travels for the remainder of Fletcher Gate, past Weekday Cross and onto Middle Hill.

Middle Hill/Collin Street/Canal Street

• At the top of Middle Hill the tram leaves the road via a concrete-built transition structure which links it to a new concrete viaduct, which replaces the old, disused railway viaduct at the top of Collin Street.
• The new viaduct runs parallel to Middle Hill and will carry the tram into the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre when its proposed expansion is completed. There is a stop inside the centre, which creates a new interchange between trams, buses, coaches, taxis and cars.
• Until the extension is built, trams will simply continue to the terminus by crossing Canal Street on a new bridge

Trent Street/Station Street

• The tram joins an old railway viaduct, behind Nottingham's Crown and County courts, on Trent Street.
• The trams currently terminate on this viaduct at the Trent Street/Station Street junction, with a footbridge taking passengers into the railway station and down to Station Street.
• This area is due to be redeveloped as part of the Station Masterplan. The proposed extension lines to Chilwell and Beeston would then join Line One here offering through journeys to the city centre and beyond.