For some time now NET have proclaimed that the Croydon Tram, which opened in May 2000, is an example to us. Its been called “a shining beacon”. But in its latest accounts, Tramtrack Croydon, has debts of £100m and made an operating loss of £9.47m. One analyst said “Its difficult to see how Tramtrack Croydon will ever make money. It doesn't break even at operating level, so how can it pay down debt of more than £100m?”

Midland Metro, the tram system that links Birmingham and Wolverhampton, is also in severe financial difficulty. The operator recorded a pre-tax loss of £11.4m and has lost £16m since it opened in 1999. The losses have been blamed on high running costs and a lack of passengers. Tram bosses also blame fare dodging and vandalism for the spiralling losses. Fares are now set to rise to recoup some of the revenue.

The Manchester Metrolink tram, has also hit the financial buffers. Altram Manchester the company created to run the service, “has turned into a millstone for its backers”, says The Times. Altram reported a 54 per cent increase in losses of £5.96m in 2000-01 and its problems reportedly arise largely from over-ambitious forecasts of passenger numbers.

When the Sheffield 'Supertram' went bust and was sold to Stagecoach for £1 we were told that lessons had been learned and it would never happen again. At a meeting with the NET last summer, we were told that NET's figures would be checked by experts. Are those the same experts who checked the sums for Sheffield, Croydon, Birmingham and Manchester?

It would be crazy not to make sure this does not happen in Nottingham. At the very least we should evaluate Line One carefully before handing over more public money for further tram routes. Tram systems today do not cost any less than those built for Manchester, Birmingham or Croydon, so with fewer potential passengers in Nottinghamshire, how can we make it work if they can't?