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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Edinburgh weighs up options to extend tram network

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Councillors in Edinburgh will meet next week to discuss how the authority moves forward with proposals to extend the city’s tram network.

The City of Edinburgh Council will assess the preliminary findings of a draft Outline Business Case, which considers options to extend the network to either Newhaven, Ocean Terminal, the foot of Leith Walk or MacDonald Road.

A formal consultation will now be held and funding options reviewed. A final decision will be made in the autumn.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “In the tram’s first year of operation we have seen passenger numbers increase, demonstrating a growing demand for public transport in Edinburgh and making the case for extending the tram to benefit people elsewhere in the city.

“But we don’t want to make any rash decisions about the future of the project, and that’s why further due diligence is required to ensure a robust financial case that can be used as a basis for an informed judgement.”

Figures show approximately 4.92 million passenger journeys were made on Edinburgh Trams during its first year of operations – around 370,000 ahead of the target set before launch.

The proposed extension would fill in a section of the original route which was eventually scaled back because of budgetary constraints.

Hinds added: “It is essential that we learn from our past mistakes and I am confident that this process will deliver thoroughly researched, strategic options for a tram extension.”

1 COMMENT

  1. Yes, it was a serious mistake to cut back on the original plans. It is no surprise that ridership has exceeded projections, since people desire smooth, comfortable, efficient, safe, non-polluting transport. Let’s hope the extension can be approved and built quickly, and that additional lines can also be constructed to implement a city-wide network of efficient LRT transport.

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