UK: The Arrow Connect and Tramlink Nottingham consortia have been invited to submit tenders for the NET Phase Two tram expansion project, Nottingham City Council announced on December 2.

The 23 year NET Phase Two contract covers construction of the 7·5 km Line 2 to Clifton and the 10 km Line 3 to Beeston and Chilwell, plus operation of these lines and the 14 km Line 1 which opened in 2004. Bids are to be submitted by May 2010, and the contract will be awarded in August 2011. Opening of the extensions is planned for late 2014.

Arrow Connect comprises Bombardier, infrastructure service company VolkerRail, Transdev, local bus operator Nottingham City Transport and private equity investor CDC Group.

Tramlink Nottingham comprises VINCI Investments and VINCI Construction UK, Alstom, Keolis, Trent Barton Bus Service, and infrastructure investment funds InfraVia and Meridiam.