OVERALL satisfaction with Nottingham's trams hit 94% last year, according to a new passenger survey.

It is the second consecutive year that it has improved by 2%.

A total of 89% of passengers also said they would like to see the tram extended to further routes.

Tram users said they had seen improvements in reliability, ease of buying a ticket, cleanliness, journey time and friendliness of staff.

But their satisfaction over prices and range of tickets, air conditioning, comfort and information during disruptions fell, compared to 2008.

Operator Nottingham Express Transit said it was an "excellent year for the tram" but it was puzzled by the reduced satisfaction in prices, because fares had been frozen.

Director Pat Armstrong said: "We are pleased to see the public still find it is providing the level of service they would like and we hope this will continue."

The survey showed people's satisfaction with reliability rose to 85% in 2009, compared to 81% the previous year.

Cleanliness was up to 86% from 81%.

Friendliness of staff was up to 92% from 83%.

Journey time satisfaction rose to 85% from 80%.

Those happy with the provision for buggies and disabled people increased to 68%, from 62%.

The lowest satisfaction was for the price and range of tickets, at just 57% – down from 67% the previous year.

A total of 63% of customers said they were satisfied with the air conditioning – down from 72%.

And seating comfort satisfaction levels fell to 68% from 73%.

Sixty-six per cent said they were happy with the information during disruptions, down from 73%.

A total of 1,433 NET passengers were asked what they thought of the service during a study carried out in October last year.

It was the sixth year running the survey has been held.

David Thornhill, chairman of Notts Campaign for Better Transport, said: "The tram has been consistently a high performer and is continuing to even improve on that.

"People are voting with their feet and catching the tram.

"The drop in satisfaction at the price and range of tickets is a real mystery. I think it is pretty good.

"They froze their prices and for anyone who gets a network ticket, that covers buses and the tram.

"And satisfaction with journey times has increased. Yet there has been no change in actual journey times.

"It does suggest a lot of this is just people's perceptions the instant they are interviewed."

jon.robinson@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk