Nottingham Express Transit (NET), the tram network serving Nottingham and its suburbs, takes a noticeably more open approach to mobility scooters than many other English tram systems. Where operators such as West Midlands Metro and Blackpool Transport restrict scooters to Class 2 with fixed maximum dimensions and a permit or assessment process, NET’s own support guidance does not set an equivalent size or class restriction, instead focusing entirely on how a scooter is boarded and parked safely once on board.
What NET’s guidance actually covers
NET’s official "Wheelchairs and mobility scooters: a safe journey guide" sets out boarding and parking advice rather than a permit or dimensions test. Every tram is 100% low floor, meaning there are no steps between the platform and the tram floor, and there are two dedicated wheelchair and mobility scooter spaces on every tram, each with a help point and a blue stop-request button positioned at an appropriate height for a seated passenger.
How to park a scooter safely on board
The guidance is specific about positioning: a wheelchair should be parked with its back against the backplate and its brakes applied. For mobility scooters, NET advises avoiding a side-on position where possible, using the wheelchair space if it is free, or parking in the direction of travel. For larger scooters, the advice is to position the scooter "with the handrail between the chair and our driver" — intended to stop the scooter tipping forward if the tram has to brake suddenly. This positioning guidance exists precisely because NET does not filter scooters by size at the point of boarding, so the responsibility for safe positioning falls more heavily on the driver’s instruction and the passenger’s own care.
General safety points that apply to every mobility aid
NET’s guidance also covers general safe-travel behaviour that applies to every passenger using a wheelchair or scooter: hold the handrail when boarding, alighting or moving through the tram; do not attempt to board once the door-closing signal has sounded; and always hold a handrail while the tram is in motion. Passengers who need more time to board or alight are told they can request it through the help points located on platforms, which connect directly to NET staff rather than requiring a phone call booked in advance.
What this means if you are travelling from outside Nottingham
For a visitor used to a stricter regional scheme, such as West Midlands Metro’s permit system, NET’s approach can come as a surprise: there is no advance paperwork to complete before a first journey. That flexibility comes with a corresponding expectation that the scooter user follows the on-board parking guidance closely, since NET is relying on driver judgement and passenger cooperation rather than a pre-checked size limit to keep the wheelchair and scooter bay safe for everyone using it.
This lighter-touch approach also means NET’s staff play a larger role than a pre-checked permit system would: drivers and platform staff are trained to help position scooters safely in real time, rather than relying solely on a scooter having already passed an assessment before it ever reaches the tram stop.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to use a mobility scooter on NET? NET’s published guidance does not describe a permit or pre-registration scheme, unlike some other English tram operators such as West Midlands Metro.
Is there a dimension limit for scooters on NET? NET’s safe-journey guide does not publish fixed width or length limits in the way West Midlands Metro and Blackpool Transport do; its focus is on boarding and parking technique rather than a size cut-off.
What if the wheelchair/scooter space is already taken? The guidance does not detail a priority order between multiple scooter and wheelchair users travelling at the same time; contacting NET directly is the way to clarify this for a specific journey.
Can I get help boarding if I need more time? Yes, the guidance points passengers to help points on platforms where additional boarding time can be requested.
Comparing NET with stricter regional schemes
Passengers used to West Midlands Metro’s permit process or Blackpool Transport’s Class 2 assessment may find NET’s approach unusually flexible. The trade-off is that NET places more weight on the passenger following its boarding and parking guidance correctly, since there is no upfront size check acting as a safeguard before the scooter reaches the tram.
The bottom line
NET stands out among English tram operators for not publishing a fixed class or dimension restriction on mobility scooters, instead relying on safe boarding and parking guidance to manage the shared wheelchair and scooter space on every tram. Scooter users travelling in Nottingham should still follow NET’s positioning advice closely, since safety on board depends on how the scooter is parked, not just on whether it is allowed on in the first place.
Sources
- Nottingham Express Transit (NET), "Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters: A Safe Journey Guide" (support.thetram.net)