A special event to celebrate the completion of Line One Nottingham's new tram system, Nottingham Express Transit, took place on Monday March 8th 2004.

The Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP was involved in marking this momentous occasion, along with other invited guests. Mr Darling and guests will got a sneak preview ride on trams before the planned launch of services to the public, the following day.

A commemorative NET flagstone was laid in the Old Market Square to mark the end of the project, alongside another laid by one of Mr Darling's predecessors, Lord MacDonald, which marked the beginning of work in 2000. A reception was be held at the Council House, while invited members of the public also had a chance to be among the first to ride on Nottingham's new tram system.

Chair of the NET Development Board, Councillor John Taylor, said: "NET Line One has been in the planning and construction stage for 16 years - we want to celebrate this massive achievement which will make such a difference to Nottingham. Those who have been involved in the project, along with those with an interest in it, should be proud of this significant moment in the city's history and the part they have played in it."

"We're pleased that the Secretary of State for Transport is visiting us at this exciting time, and hope we will have a chance to talk to him about our ambitions for the city and for expanding the tram network."

Councillor Terry Butler of Nottinghamshire County Council said: "I'm delighted that the tram is ready to roll for its official opening. The foundations of the tram project were laid over 10 years ago by the County Council and I am pleased that the tram has now become such an exciting reality."

Tram services started the following day, with trams being flagged off from their starting points at Station Street, Phoenix Park and Hucknall at 6am by local dignitaries. Once underway, the public had their first chance to experience for themselves the easy access onto the 15 smart new trams, the smooth and quiet ride and swift and affordable journeys that NET can provide.

Mike Casebourne, Project Director for the concessionaire Arrow Light Rail, said: “This is a proud moment for everyone involved in the project and I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has worked so hard to design and build this impressive tram system for Nottingham as well as those who I am confident will run it successfully for many years to come.

"We are pleased that our contractors, Bombardier and Carillion, have overcome many issues in constructing the trams and tracks to such a high standard in good time. And we are delighted that the senior staff of our operating companies, Transdev and Nottingham City Transport, have trained 90 driver-conductors from scratch, become familiar with the maintenance of this complex system and very quickly begun to operate a reliable six-minute timetable through the city centre.”

The idea of a tram for Nottingham was first mooted in the late 1980s. Extensive planning, financial and contractual negotiations, an unprecedented £179m PFI deal for a local transport project and an Act of Parliament, saw work start in June 2000, lasting over three years.

John Watson, Chair Nottingham Development Enterprise - the public/private partnership that promoted the idea and raised the money for the first studies said: "We are delighted that the tram is now running. It is a tribute to the dedicated partnership work of the public and private sectors. The tram is hugely important for the Big Wheel and the regeneration of the entire area. We must all now work together to realise the benefits of the proposed Lines Two and Three."

NETS MAIDEN VOYAGE

A new transport era was ushered in on Tuesday March 9 when Line One of Nottingham Express Transit opened to the travelling public for the first time.

Following approval from Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, the £200m tramway went into public.

The people of Nottingham have tolerated the construction for the last few years and more recently watched tram tests with interest - now they can get on board and find out for themselves what all the fuss has been about.

Chair of the NET Development Board, Councillor John Taylor, said: "This is the day that many dedicated people have been working towards for years, and I'm thrilled that it is now here and that the people of Nottingham can start to use their fabulous new tram system.

"NET will make a big difference to Nottingham, making it an even more attractive destination because of the ease with which people can get around, and enticing more businesses to locate here, so I'm looking forward to the prospect of extending the network to other parts of the conurbation."

The first trams set off at around 6am from Hucknall, Phoenix Park and Station Street - carrying the first tram passengers through Nottingham since 1936. They were flagged on their way respectively by Councillor Terry Butler of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor John Taylor of Nottingham City Council and John Watson of Nottingham Development Enterprise - collectively representing the Promoters of the NET system.

It was the Promoters who began planning a tram network for Nottingham back in 1988. Now, the 14km Line One has become a reality, serving the north of the city, with interchanges at three stations and providing 3,000 spaces at five Park & Ride sites. Single fares start from 80p and all day travel is £2. Trams run at six-minute intervals at peak times in the city centre.

The trams offer a smooth journey past traffic jams and unprecedented access for all. NET also helps to raise the profile of Nottingham and encourage inward investment. Plans are underway to extend the network south and west of the city, doubling the length of the system and size of the tram fleet and providing a tram Park & Ride off each of the three M1 junctions serving Nottingham. It's hoped the new lines, providing through-journeys to Line One, could be up and running by 2009.

Commemorative NET flagstone being laid.

Band marks the occassion on the Market Square