Edinburgh’s plans for tramline extension have undergone a significant redirection. Previously, the city had plans to extend the tramline beyond the airport to Newbridge. Now, however, a more compelling business case has been made for a route along the A71 corridor, potentially serving Heriot-Watt University.
A city transport and environment committee report suggests that although extending the tramline to Newbridge would offer benefits, they could be more effectively realised with an improved bus service. The report also highlights that a tramline along the A71 corridor beyond Hermiston is likely to have a stronger business case than the Newbridge route. It also clarifies that there would be insufficient capacity to operate both new lines concurrently.
Edinburgh’s focus is now on a tramline running from Granton in the north to the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary in the south-east and onwards towards Dalkeith. This priority comes in the wake of the successful opening of the tram extension from the city centre to Newhaven. A public consultation detailing this plan, including the potential use of the Roseburn cycle path or Orchard Brae, is expected to launch later in the year.
The original four-phase tram plans for the Capital included a line to Newbridge. These plans involved a tramline from Newhaven to the airport, another from Haymarket to Granton, linking Granton and Newhaven to complete the loop, and finally, an extension from the airport to Newbridge. Despite the shift in focus, land for the Newbridge route is still safeguarded in the City Plan.
The report presented to the transport committee confirms West Edinburgh as a potential location for significant development, highlighting the need for sustainable transport solutions. It mentions that Newbridge emerged well in terms of “deliverability” in a study of various corridors for potential tram development. A new park and ride site was also identified which could encourage people to switch from car to tram.
However, the report suggests that Bus Rapid Transit options could be more suitable for this corridor, quicker to implement and provide a more direct routing to Newbridge. The report also notes that capacity constraints on the tram network mean that only one tram extension in the west of the city could be supported – either an extension to Newbridge or an extension to the west of Hermiston, but not both.
Transport and environment convener Scott Arthur expressed that while the Granton line is the current priority, it is not expected to be ready until 2035. He described the timetable as “frustrating” and expressed hope that the successful opening of the tramline extension to Newhaven proves the city’s ability to execute such projects effectively.