Four ways into the city centre from HS2 trains?

FOUR options are being looked at to connect Nottingham to the new high speed train station at Toton Sidings.

When the Department for Transport announced Toton as the East Midlands station on the high speed line, it suggested an extension of the tram network to serve the new site.

The other possibility was to run a train shuttle service between Nottingham station and the high speed rail link, taking 12 minutes.

However, Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for transport and planning at Nottingham City Council, has said two other options are being looked at – buses and tram trains.

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A bus shuttle service could run to the site and provide connections to other bus routes.

And tram trains could be developed to run along existing heavy rail lines, similar to those running in Karlsruhe and other European cities, which allow tram services to be scheduled between passenger or freight train services, but with the benefit of also being able to run on the existing tram network.

Councillor Urquhart said: "Clearly, we are at the very early stages of considering the implications of a high speed railway station located at Toton. Good connectivity with the city is crucial and could be achieved in a variety of different ways, though no firm proposals have been made yet.

"Public transport linkage options need to be explored to maximise the accessibility of the station from all parts of the conurbation."

Meanwhile, politicians and train users have also stressed the need for good links with the new station.

James Shields, of Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, works as a marketing consultant and often travels to the capital for business.

The 45-year-old said: "If there's no link to Nottingham other than the tram, there would be very little benefit of the line because all of the time gained would be lost getting into the city centre.

"The high speed trains are an exciting prospect – everything's all about getting places quicker these days and I'm sure the new line will be popular as long as it is affordable.

"I'd use it when I travel to London for work

"It would mean that I didn't need to leave home so early to get to morning meetings in London."

Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry said it was important to form good links with the city, but reiterated her position of fighting against green-belt development.

She said: "It is very important that we give careful consideration as to how we take advantage of a station at Toton Sidings without sacrificing the principles of green belt land in providing green open spaces.

"I think it is critical we see this as an opportunity to create jobs in the borough and to build better public transport – notably the extension of the tram to the sidings area or at least some effective and modern connection – and better roads for the benefit of both Stapleford and Toton and all users of the A52."

And Nottingham East MP Chris Leslie said: "It's great that it's coming through the East Midlands and Toton Sidings is better than nothing but I'm still left with anxiety about it not coming into the heart of the city.

"Maybe we want to be looking at a spur into the city centre.

"There are massive economic benefits and where do they need to be felt? We need them in the city centre."