TRAM experts have said the network could be linked beyond Nottinghamshire, as support for the project continues to grow.
The claims were made during the first day of the ninth annual UK Light Rail Conference, held at Nottingham's Conference Centre.
The event, which continues until tomorrow, welcomes than 80 exhibitors and speakers to the city to discuss tram and light transport projects across the country.
Among the keynote speakers at the two-day event were Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood, city Portfolio Holder for Planning and Tramlink chairman Roger Harrison.
Mr Harrison said the choice to host the conference in the city demonstrated the confidence there was, not only in the current tram project, but in plans to expand it further afield.
He said: "Nottingham was the first project in the country to have genuine social objectives, working with local partnerships to create new apprenticeships.
"It's an interesting project where they're trying to build the British economy.
"There's lots of interest from business, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce are very supportive that the tram needs to continue, it shouldn't stop with phase two, it could be built further north or north-east.
"Basically we want to open up where it should go next."
Across the two days, the conference invitees discussed a number of issues related to the tram including development, financing and its links with the HS2 project.
Nottingham was picked this year to host the conference over Manchester which has hosted the event for the past three years.
Organiser Simon Johnston said the Phase 2 development had generated considerable interest nationwide and now other cities were looking to learn from its example.
He said: "The UK Rail industry at the moment is seeing an expansion in growth with projects in Nottingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.
"We think it's important to carry on the momentum.
"Local authorities across the UK and Europe are trying to learn from some of the lessons where we've performed well."
"That's what people want to come away from the event with and some of those lessons have come from Nottingham."
Chris Deas, NET phase 2 project director said they will be working closely with business and members of the public.
He said: "Nottingham has been identified as a major regional infrastructure project and there's a lot of interest around it.
"The Light Rail Conference will touch on where we go next for Nottingham; there are some discussions to talk about where will bring it next and clearly there's an opening discussion with government about how we link it with HS2.
"The expansion of the tram network is part of a dialogue between the public and private sector over the next few years to decide what is best for Nottingham."
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