By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham tram fares will be increasing across the board from January 8, prompting concerns they may “dissuade” potential customers from using them.
It is the second price rise announced for the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) network in 12 months.
Prices also increased in the spring, when the cost of an adult single ticket jumped from £2.80 to £3.00.
From January 8 the cost of an adult single ticket will again rise by 20p to £3.20, alongside a raft of other fares.
An adult day ticket, for example, will increase from £5.00 to £5.30, while an adult annual ticket will rise from £630 to £675.
The NET network is operated and maintained by a partnership of companies including Keolis and its subsidiary Nottingham Trams Limited.
This group of companies, or consortium, is known as Tramlink.
Tramlink recently renegotiated the terms of its Private Finance Initiative (PFI) loans, extending the time it needs to pay them off while also using some of its reserves to reduce the amount owed, because it would have run out of money otherwise.
A PFI is where investors put money into a public project with the promise of a financial return in the future.
The operator has been struggling financially due to reduced passenger numbers following the Covid pandemic, ticket fare evasion problems and soaring energy bills.
David Thornhill, the chairman of the Nottinghamshire Campaign for Better Transport, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I looked at Birmingham and Sheffield and it is very difficult to compare [prices], but even with the increase Nottingham is in the right ballpark.
“The cost is not outrageous compared to elsewhere, but that is not to say it is good news of course, it is not out of kilter.
“I’m not surprised because the PFI was changed recently and they have been struggling.
“But is this a good way of doing this, because it could dissuade people from using the transport?
“And you can still get the £2 bus ticket until December 2024, so I can understand where the tram is coming from but I’m not sure it is the best way to try to balance the books.”
Below is a full breakdown of the new ticket prices:
| Ticket Type |
Current (£) |
New (£) |
| Adult Day |
£5.00 |
£5.30 |
| Adult Single |
£3.00 |
£3.20 |
| Adult Week |
£22.00 |
£23.00 |
| Group Off Peak |
£8.00 |
£8.50 |
| Group Peak |
£12.00 |
£13.00 |
| Student Day |
£4.00 |
£4.30 |
| Student Single |
£2.40 |
£2.60 |
| Student Week |
£17.00 |
£18.00 |
| U19 Day |
£3.00 |
£3.30 |
| U19 Single |
£1.80 |
£2.00 |
| U19 Week |
£12.00 |
£13.00 |
| Adult Annual |
£365.00 |
£450.00 |
| RHC Adult |
£3.00 |
£3.20 |
| RHC Student |
£2.40 |
£2.60 |
| RHC U19 |
£1.80 |
£2.00 |
| Concession OOB |
£3.50 |
£3.70 |
| NTU Clifton |
£2.50 |
£2.60 |
| EMV Adult |
£3.00 |
£3.20 |
| Adult Annual |
£630.00 |
£675.00 |
| Adult Monthly (1) |
£70.00 |
£75.00 |
| Adult Monthly (3) |
£190.00 |
£205.00 |
| Adult Monthly (6) |
£350.00 |
£375.00 |
| Student Annual |
£350.00 |
£375.00 |
| Student Monthly (1) |
£55.00 |
£60.00 |
| Student Monthly (3) |
£145.00 |
£155.00 |
| Student Monthly (6) |
£240.00 |
£255.00 |
| T2W Annual |
£530.00 |
£575.00 |
| T2W Monthly (1) |
£65.00 |
£70.00 |
| T2W Monthly (3) |
£175.00 |
£190.00 |
| T2W Monthly (6) |
£325.00 |
£350.00 |
| U19 Annual |
£315.00 |
£337.50 |
| U19 Monthly (1) |
£35.00 |
£37.50 |
| U19 Monthly (3) |
£95.00 |
£102.50 |
| U19 Monthly (6) |
£175.00 |
£187.50 |
