- Edinburgh tram network
Edinburgh Trams is a project to build a new
tram way inEdinburgh , where local public transport has been limited to buses since the closing of the city’s original tramway on16 November 1956 .Following years of transport studies in Edinburgh — two bills were submitted to the
Scottish Parliament to reintroduce a tram network to Edinburgh. Both bills were passed in March/April 2006, and receivedRoyal Assent . Movement of underground utilities commenced in Spring 2007, once the draft business case had been accepted by theScottish Government . [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6458981.stm BBC News - £60m released for Edinburgh trams] ]As of June 2008, construction work is underway based on a design by System Design Services (SDS, a joint design contract lead by
Parsons Brinckerhoff and Halcrow). The project is being overseen by Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (tie), a company wholly owned by theCity of Edinburgh Council . Work relocating utilities is ongoing and construction of the tram infrastructure commenced following the award of the final contracts to BBS and CAF in May 2008 [ [http://www.nce.co.uk/news/2008/05/final_contracts_awarded_for_edinburgh_tram.html Final contracts awarded for Edinburgh Tram ] ] . Once the network becomes operational it will be operated byTransdev who were awarded the contract in 2004 to help develop, and eventually operate the network.Ticketing and fares will be fully integrated with
Lothian Buses . The fare for a single journey on the tram network will be the same as on Lothian Buses, expected to be around £1.25 when the network opens in 2011. Day tickets and Ridacards will be valid on both the trams and buses. [ [http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=88032007 Edinburgh Evening News - Transport chief prices single tram ticket at £1.25] ]Estimated date of opening for Phase 1a is July 2011, at a cost of £512 million. [ [http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/servlet/QsProtected?IDC=CEC/Corporate_Services/Corporate_Communications/Press_Releases/NewsRelease.idc&ID=3883 Edinburgh City Council Press Release] ]
Critical scrutiny
The
Scottish National Party (SNP) published its intention to scrap the scheme, along with the Edinburgh Airport rail link in itsmanifesto for theScottish Parliament general election, 2007 , to save a total of £1.1bn.Following a vote in the
Scottish Parliament , the Scottish Government agreed to continue with the line from the Airport to Leith on condition that no more public money would be supplied if the project overran. A report byAudit Scotland , commissioned by the SNP-led Scottish government, confirmed that the cost projections were sound. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6243158.stm BBC News - Climbdown after transport defeat] ] [ [http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1008122007 The Scotsman - Trams given green light....] ]On
25 October 2007 Edinburgh City Council gave approval to the Final Business Case. Approval was given by the Council [ [http://news.scotsman.com/politics/City-leaders-back--the.3615777.jp City leaders back the final case for trams - Scotsman.com News ] ] on22 December 2007 for TIE to sign contracts with CAF [http://www.tramtime.com/pressrelease/tramco_sep07.pdf] for the supply of the vehicles and BBS (a consortium ofSiemens AG andBilfinger Berger ) [http://www.tramtime.com/pressrelease/infraco_oct07.pdf] for the design, construction and building of the network. Contract negotiations were concluded in April 2008 with construction of the network commencing in June 2008. [ [http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=1705142007 Scotsman.com News ] ]Lines
The proposal consists of three lines, of which lines One and Two have parliamentary permission. For funding reasons, the network will be built in three phases. Phase 1a would consist of an 11½ mile line from Newhaven to Edinburgh Airport via
Princes Street . Phase 1b would be a 3½ mile line from Haymarket to Granton Square. Phase 2 would link Granton Square and Newhaven together. Phase 3 would extend the airport line to Newbridge. It is hoped that phase 1a of the network will be operational by 2011.The network will be operated from a depot that will be situated close to the A8 roundabout just north of the
Gyle tram stop.Line 1 (North Edinburgh)
* [http://www.tramtime.com/popup/line1.html Route map] The first route will be a circular route between the City Centre,
Leith , Newhaven and Granton. It will be integrated with the cycle and pedestrian path along theRoseburn wildlife corridor or the former railway between West Coates and Granton."Please note that routeings, station names, and station locations are subject to change."
Name Phase Transport Interchange Serves Haymarket rail-interchange|gb|rail Phase 1a Haymarket railway station Lothian Buses Line 2 (West Edinburgh)Edinburgh International Conference Centre Shandwick Place Phase 1a Princes Street Phase 1a Princes Street National Gallery of Scotland St Andrew Square (rail-interchange|gb|rail Edinburgh Waverley) Phase 1a Lothian Buses Edinburgh Bus Station Waverley StationSt Andrew Square St. James Centre Picardy Place Phase 1a Omni Centre Edinburgh Playhouse McDonald Road Phase 1a Easter Road Stadium Balfour Street Phase 1a Pilrig Park Foot of the Walk Phase 1a Lothian Buses Constitution Street Phase 1a Port of Leith (formerly Ocean Drive) Phase 1a Scottish Government buildingOcean Terminal Phase 1a Ocean Terminal Royal Yacht Britannia Newhaven Phase 1a Newhaven Lower Granton Phase 2 Granton (formerly Granton Square) Phase 1b Saltire Square (formerly Granton Waterfront) Phase 1b Caroline Park Phase 1b Telford College West Pilton (formerly West Granton) Phase 1b Crewe Toll Phase 1b Lothian Buses Fettes College Telford road Phase 1b Western General Hospital Craigleith Phase 1b Craigleith Retail Park Ravelston Dykes Phase 1b Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Stewart's Melville College The Mary Erskine School St. George's SchoolRoseburn Phase 1b "The line continues to Haymarket to complete the loop" Line 2 (West Edinburgh)
* [http://www.tramtime.com/popup/line2.html Route map] The second route will run from the City Centre out to
Edinburgh Airport viaEdinburgh Park , with a branch line to Newbridge. In February 2005, construction of a bus guideway, which forms part of the route, was completed. The guideway is designed for conversion to tram running, and between proposed stops 4 and 6 runs adjacent to theEdinburgh and Glasgow Railway , between Haymarket and Edinburgh Park stations.The Scottish Government announced [ [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/This-Week/Speeches/edinburgh-rail-link/ The Scottish Government - News] ] on
27 September 2007 the cancellation of theEdinburgh Airport Rail Link and that they would build a new rail station and tram stop on the Fife Railway line this would allow fast connection to Edinburgh Airport, costs for this have not been stated and would be in addition to the currently budgeted for amount."Please note that routes, station names, and station locations are subject to change."
Name Phase Transport Interchange Serves "Between the city centre and Haymarket, trams run along Line 1." Haymarket rail-interchange|gb|rail Phase 1a Haymarket railway station Lothian Buses Line 1 (North Edinburgh)Edinburgh International Conference Centre Murrayfield Phase 1a Murrayfield Stadium Balgreen Phase 1a Edinburgh Zoo Saughton Phase 1a Bankhead (formerly South Gyle) Phase 1a Stevenson College Edinburgh Park Station rail-interchange|gb|rail Phase 1a Edinburgh Park railway station Hermiston Gait retail park Edinburgh Park Central Phase 1a Edinburgh Park Gyle Centre Phase 1a Gyle Shopping Centre Gogarburn Phase 1a Royal Bank of Scotland headquartersIngliston Park and Ride Phase 1a Lothian Buses "At this point the line diverges; one branch runs to Edinburgh Airport, the other to Newbridge North" Edinburgh Airport Phase 1a Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Edinburgh Airport Ingliston West Phase 3 Royal Highland Showground Ratho Station Phase 3 Newbridge South Phase 3 Newbridge North Phase 3 Line 3 (South East Edinburgh)
* [http://www.tramtime.com/popup/line3.html Route map]
The third tram line would run from the City Centre towards the
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and finally connecting withNewcraighall railway station andpark and ride , with a possible extension toMusselburgh .The third route has yet to be submitted to the Scottish Parliament. Funding for the line depended on Edinburgh voters agreeing to a
congestion charge , which was rejected in the Edinburgh road tolls referendum, 2005. As such, the proposal is on hold and does not form part of the proposed phases, but the land needed for the line will be protected for at least 10 years. [ [http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1830172005 Scotsman.com News ] ]Name Phase Transport Interchange Serves Waverley station rail-interchange|gb|rail N/A Edinburgh Waverley railway station Lothian Buses Line 1 (North Edinburgh)High Street N/A Royal Mile South Bridge N/A Nicolson Square N/A University of Edinburgh George Square campusSt Patrick Square N/A The Meadows N/A The Meadows Newington Road N/A Newington Minto Street N/A Newington Station N/A Interchange with South Suburban Railway at Newington Station Craigmillar Park N/A University of Edinburgh King's Buildings campus (at some distance)Cameron Toll N/A Cameron Toll Shopping Centre The Inch N/A Moredun N/A Moredun RIE/Bio Medipark N/A Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Greendykes N/A Greendykes Craigmillar N/A Craigmillar Niddrie N/A Niddrie The Wisp N/A Fort Kinnaird N/A Fort Kinnaird Retail Park Newcraighall rail-interchange|gb|rail N/A Newcraighall railway station Tram vehicles
The contract to build the trams was awarded to CAF [ [http://www.tramtime.com/our_vehicles.html tramtime - our partners ] ] and is worth up to £40 million and will be built to meet "tie's" specifications. Special requirements that tie has put on the bi-directional vehicles are low noise and a visual fit suitable for a
World Heritage Site . [ [http://tt.tiedinburgh.co.uk/pressroom.html] ]The trams will be 42.8m long [ [http://www.caf.net/ingles/productos/proyecto.php?cod=4&id=621&sec=datos :: CAF - Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, we create railway solutions :: ] ] and 100%
low floor built to meet UK Rail Vehicle Access Regulations for disabled people. Passenger capacity will be 332 [ [http://www.caf.net/ingles/productos/proyecto.php?cod=4&id=621&sec=prest :: CAF - Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, we create railway solutions :: ] ] with 80 seated and 250 standing and the trams will be fitted with CCTV. [ [http://www.caf.net/ingles/productos/proyecto.php?cod=4&id=621&sec=equip :: CAF - Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, we create railway solutions :: ] ] . The trams will have to cope with the steep slopes of Edinburgh.Willie Gallagher, chairman of TIE, said: "Edinburgh will have the most advanced tram system in the world." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/5167948.stm BBC NEWS | Scotland | Edinburgh and East | City trams to be 'best in world' ] ]
CAF was selected from amongst the four manufacturers who submitted tenders. Alstom, Bombardier, and Siemens were the other companies competing to build the 27 vehicles.
ee also
*
Transport in Edinburgh
*Edinburgh Corporation Tramways (closed in 1956)
*Light Rail Transit Association
*Scottish Tramway and Transport Society
*List of Tramways in Scotland
*Edinburgh Airport Rail Link References
External links
* [http://www.tramtime.com/ Edinburgh's Official Tram Time web site]
* [http://www.leithtraders.com/ Leith Walk & Constitution Street Traders Association] Traders affected by the implementation of the tramway
* [http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/central/2007/nr_070620_edin_transport_project.pdf Auditor Generals Report on Tram Scheme]
* [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/tram-one-bill/index.htm Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill Committee]
* [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/tram-two-bill/index.htm Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee]
* [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2006/20060007.htm Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Act 2006)]
* [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2006/20060006.htm Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Act 2006)]
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