By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham’s tram network had to briefly suspend services earlier in the summer after a rise in employees self-isolating.
Documents show operator NET struggled with an increase in employees being contacted through the Government’s test and trace app, with July being “the most challenging month in 2021 so far”.
Some staff were alerted during their shifts and had to go home immediately, with “limited opportunities” to find replacements at short notice.
Absent employees reached a peak of 53, of which 30 were drivers. At one point, 12 of the 23 control room staff were also asked to self-isolate.
There was a brief suspension of services on July 9.
NET says “Covid-safe working practices introduced during the pandemic helped to mitigate against more severe disruptions” to the service.
Nottingham City Council is set to hear about NET’s performance and progress between June and July at a meeting due to be held on Tuesday, September 14.
NET says reliability and punctuality of the tram service, during the two-month period from June to the end of July was 92.91 per cent and 91.67 per cent respectively.
The report prepared for the meeting also discusses anti-social behaviour problems as well as a rise in fares.
It states that the council’s community protection officers continue to operate on the tram network acting in both uniform and plain clothes.
They have conducted 483 patrols reinforcing face covering rules and confiscating alcohol.
Most anti-social behaviour incidents involved secondary-school pupils, according to the report, and school visits are planned in the future.
Tram fares have also risen from the end of August.
This includes an adult single rising from £2.40 to £2.50, an adult day rising from £4.20 to £4.40 and an adult week rising from £18.50 to £19.
There has also been a rise in other tickets including student passes and for those Under 19.
