Tram services in Nottingham were disrupted by staff shortages, tram availability problems and a continued high number of collisions involving road vehicles, according to a new operational update.
A report to the Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Advisory Committee says Nottingham Express Transit recorded reliability of 92.51% and punctuality of 91.21% between the beginning of December 2025 and May 2026.
The report, provided by Nottingham Trams Ltd, says February and March were the worst-performing months during the period because of a combination of driver availability, tram availability and significant incidents on the network.
The update says the tram network continues to experience a significant number of road traffic collisions involving trams and other vehicles. A total of 33 such collisions were recorded during the period under review.
The most significant incident was a collision between Tram 228 and a Nottingham City Transport bus at the Inham Road crossing. The report says Tram 228 is expected to remain out of service for several months while inspection and repair work is completed, affecting Nottingham Trams Ltd’s ability to maintain a full timetable.
The company says each collision has an impact on service delivery because the tram involved has to be withdrawn from use while checks and any necessary repairs are carried out.
Nottingham Trams Ltd says it is working with local authorities and Nottinghamshire Police to target higher-risk locations and, where possible, design out or reduce the risks. A second phase of a road traffic collision awareness campaign has also been launched, focusing on the dangers of trying to race a tram and taking risks at traffic-light controlled junctions.
Tram availability was described as challenging during the period and had a detrimental impact on operational performance. The report says a process has begun to manage performance in this area and improve availability.
Two trams remain off the network for repairs, while one tram a week is also being stood down for the rest of the year to complete overspeed modifications. The work is being carried out to meet actions set by the Office of Rail and Road in relation to recommendations made after the Sandilands tram crash.
The report says the overspeed system is now fully operational across the Citadis fleet, with modification work continuing on the Incentro fleet. That programme is expected to continue until late in the year.
Driver availability also remained a problem during the reporting period, with high sickness absence and staff attrition affecting recovery. Nottingham Trams Ltd says absence management has been strengthened through weekly reviews, while driver recruitment has been accelerated to address vacancies.
Longer-term work has also been carried out to review informal working arrangements. The report says that work has now been completed and a new roster will be introduced in the next period to make better use of flexible working arrangements.
Engineering works also affected services in May, when worn rails were replaced along Goldsmith Street. The work required the network to be split for eight days, with no tram service between Forest and Old Market Square.
A bus replacement service was provided during the closure. The report says the works were completed on time, although some minor snagging work followed. Performance during that period was also affected by unseasonably high temperatures, which caused reliability issues with tram air conditioning units.
Other incidents recorded during the period included an overhead line fault on December 22, which stopped services between University Boulevard and Toton Lane, a thermal event involving Tram 208 at Royal Centre on February 12, and a collision between Tram 226 and a lorry carrying scaffolding at Summerwood Lane on February 17.
The report also records overhead line incidents near Church Street Bridges in Basford in late February, fallen tree branches on overhead lines near Basford Bridges in March, police incidents at QMC bridge and Fletcher Gate on May 1, track works at Nottingham Trent University between May 23 and May 31, and planned disruption linked to Notts County promotion celebrations at Old Market Square on May 26.
Anti-social behaviour also remains an issue across the tram network. The report says frontline staff continue to face disruptive behaviour and, on occasion, verbal and physical abuse while carrying out their duties.
Nottingham Trams Ltd says it is working with Nottinghamshire Police to analyse patterns and trends so police and security patrols can be directed to hotspot areas.
The report also refers to isolated incidents of “tram surfing” in the Beeston area. A media campaign was carried out at the time to warn parents and children about the dangers of the behaviour.
Operation SafeNET has led to multiple suspects being identified and prosecuted for offences committed across the network, according to the report. The operation has also expanded to include a Nottinghamshire Police data analyst, using both police and tram network data to identify higher-risk locations.
The report says this analysis is helping police and security patrols to be deployed where they are most needed.
Operation Safe Travel has also been launched by the Police and Crime Commissioner and East Midlands Mayor, deploying uniformed security patrols on trams across the network. The report says the aim is to target high-risk locations, deter offenders and reassure passengers.
Police have also been present at some revenue protection gateway operations in partnership with Tramlink. The report says those joint operations have reduced the number of people walking away and increased the number of penalty fare notices issued.
The report also includes an update on Nottingham Trams’ community and partnership work. It says 2025 was a productive year for its corporate social responsibility programme, including community donations, work with local charities and fundraising for its charity of the year, Our Dementia Choir.
During the first five months of 2026, Nottingham Trams continued community work despite a significantly reduced budget. Nottinghamshire Mind was selected as its charity of the year for 2026 following a staff vote, with activities including wellbeing support for staff, awareness work and fundraising events. The report says £479 has been raised so far.
The company has also continued work with organisations including The Pythian Club and Switch Up, with a focus on tackling anti-social behaviour, vandalism and tram surfing, as well as creating opportunities for young people through outreach, depot visits, mentoring and work experience discussions.
The report is due to be noted by the GNLRT Advisory Committee. No decision is being sought from the committee beyond noting the operational performance and progress update.
