|
|
26.
Update: January 2006 |
|
Recommendations
Edinburgh Council announced on 19 January 06:
- Tomorrow, 20 January 06, the council will
issue a report on the proposed tram lines, to be discussed at a full
council meeting on 26 January 06.
- This report will state that, due to costs
having risen from £473m to
£714m, the
council is no longer able to afford the the whole of Lines 1 and 2 at this
stage, and it therefore recommends that the following should be
shelved:
- the western and northern parts of
Line 1, running from Leith via Granton to join Line 2 near
Haymarket.
- the eastern end of Line 2, linking
Edinburgh Airport and Newbridge.
|
|
Phase 1
This leaves just a single line, to be known as
Phase 1, from Ocean Terminal, Leith to Edinburgh Airport, to go ahead in
2010.
Please click on the map below to enlarge it.
©
|
|
Phase 2
The western part of Line 2, linking Princes
Street and Granton, through Edinburgh Waterfront, is to be known as Phase
2. This will be shelved unless the project can be delivered under
budget. The promoters still say that delivery under budget is
possible.
Please click on the picture below to see the land
that has already been prepared for Line 1, beside Waterfront Avenue to the
south-west of Granton Harbour.
©
Waterfront Avenue
|
|
Phase 3
The northern part of Line 2 linking Granton,
Newhaven and Leith is to be known as Phase 3.
|
|
Phase 4
The western end of Line 1, linking Edinburgh
Airport and Newbridge is to be known as Phase 4.
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News
January 19, 2006, pp.1,4 |
|
27.
Update: January 2006 |
|
Costs
The cost
of the line for Phase 1, from Ocean Terminal to Edinburgh Airport is
estimated to be £484m.
The
funding expected from the Scottish Executive, if the tram bill is
passed in the Scottish Parliament, around March 2006, is expected to be
£490m.
In
addition, Edinburgh Council has raised £45m, mainly from taxes on land
close to the proposed lines. This gives a total of £529m and leaves
a surplus of £51m to be put towards Phase 2, the line linking Haymarket
and Granton.
|
|
Political Comments
Labour: "It is more important to have a 'core'
tram route in place as soon as possible" Donald
Anderson, Council Leader, supporting of the proposals
"We will complete all the lines in a phased
manner."
Andrew Burns, Transport Leader.
Green Party: "If the council cannot
provide public transport to get people out of their cars, then the future
of the redevelopment of Granton will be undermined."
Mark Ballard, Lothian Green MSP
Liberal Democrat: "Edinburgh has talked for
too long about a real effective mass transit link from the western suburbs
of Edinburgh and on to Leith. The council must act now or be
condemned for inaction by future generations"
Phil Wheeler, Liberal Democrat transport
spokesman.
SNP: "Trams were removed from Edinburgh for a
very good reason and the plans should be scrapped now.
Steve Cardownie, SNP Councillor
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News
January 20, 2006, pp.8,9 |
|
28.
Update: February 2006 |
|
£500,000 for Badger Protection
Figures for the cost of protecting badgers on the
new tram routes have been released to the Evening News under the Freedom
of Information Act.
It is estimated that to protect badgers
from the trams, by creating a series of "safe runs" using bridges, tunnels
and fencing, could cost £540,000.
These costs include:
- £320,000 for 11km of fencing.
- £40,000 for a network of tunnels for the
badgers.
- £20,000 for re-housing the badgers while
the line is being built.
- £85,000 for wildlife experts who will
monitor the workers and the badgers!
Badgers are a legally protected species. It
is estimated that about 35 badgers live close to the proposed track
- four families near Edinburgh Airport and two families in the
Roseburn Urban Wildlife Corridor on the route between Haymarket and
Granton.
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News
February 2, 2006, p.5 |
|
29.
Update: February 2006 |
|
Scottish Parliament Debate
Members
of the Scottish Parliament's Edinburgh Trams (Line One) Committee
are due to question Edinburgh Council leader, Donald Anderson, and TIE
leader, Michael Howell, tomorrow.
Edinburgh Council announced on January 19 that Phase 1 of the system would
provide only one line, from Leith to Edinburgh Waterfront. However,
MSPs are likely to demand that the trams serve the Waterfront population
which includes areas near Newhaven and Granton.
The article comments that Edinburgh Waterfront's
population is going to be the equivalent of the population of Perth,
Scotland. |
|
Edinburgh Evening News
February 6, 2006, p.17 |
|
30.
Update: February 2006 |
|
Tendering for Trams
TIE have selected four companies from 11 who
applied to tender for the design and supply of trams to Edinburgh.
The final choice is expected to be made during 2006.
The four
companies currently bidding are:
- from Germany: Bombardier and
Siemens
- from France: Alstom
- from Spain: CAF
Edinburgh will require the trams to accommodate at least 200 passengers,
have low level boarding, CCTV cameras, real time information
displays and public address systems.
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News
February 28, 2006, p.7 |
|
31.
Update: March 2006 |
|
Parliamentary Committee approve Trams
After
two years' consideration, and listening to many objections, Members
of the Scottish Parliament's Edinburgh Trams (Line One) Committee
have now approved the route proposed by Edinburgh Council.
The line
will use the Roseburn corridor, rather than pass directly past the Western
General Hospital. A shuttle bus service will be provided to from the
tram route to the hospital.
The
Parliamentary Committee expressed disappointment that funding problems had
resulted in shelving part of the proposed route and said that it was
"essential" for the section from Haymarket to Granton (coloured yellow on
the map below) to be built as soon as possible.
The
committee ruled that construction work should not take place on Saturday
afternoons in order to lessen disruption to shoppers and traders.
The trams are now scheduled to be operational by July 2010, but might the
shorter hours for construction result in further delays?
Please click on the map below to enlarge it.

All MSPs
will vote on the Bills for the two tram lines later in March 2006.
They will be recommended by their Parliamentary Committees to vote in
favour of the routes proposed by Edinburgh Council, even though it will
not be possible to build these routes in their entirety, initially.
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News
March 1, 2006, p.2 |
|
32
Update: March 2006 |
|
Parliamentary Vote
The
Scottish Parliament debated Tramline 2, the line to Edinburgh Airport, on
March 22..
David
Letchie, former Tory Leader and Kenny MacAskill, Scottish National
MSP questioned the business case for the line, but Sarah Boyack, Central
Edinburgh MSP and former Transport Minister spoke out strongly in favour
of the line.
MSPs
voted 88 to 20 in favour of the Bill for the tramline to go ahead.
They are
due to debate Tramline 1 next week, on March 29, 2006. |
|
Edinburgh Evening News
March 23 2006, p.8 |
|
33.
Update: March 2006 |
|
Funding and Delay
After
studying a detailed audit of all the Scottish Executive's major transport
commitments, Tavish Scott, Transport Minister in the Scottish Parliament
has confirmed the parliament's support for these projects.
He
confirmed that the Scottish Parliament had agreed that funding for the trams will be increased to take account of
inflation, so increasing the Scottish
Executive's contribution from £375m to £450-500m for the tram line from
Edinburgh Airport to Ocean Terminal. (I thought the funding would have
been for the line from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven.)
However,
he now estimates that the new tram system will not be operational until
early 2011. The previous estimate was July 2010. |
|
Other Edinburgh Transport Proposals
Tavish
Scott also gave these estimates for other transport proposals:
-
Rail Link to Edinburgh Airport - now expected to open in
2011
(1 year later than expected).
-
Waverley
Line to the Borders - now expected to re-open in 2011
(3 years later than expected).
-
Waverley Station improvements, phase 1: expected 2007 (on time).
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News
March 16, 2006, p.11 |
|
34.
Update: March 2006 |
|
Initial Spending
TIE say
that by Autumn 2006 between £50m and £60m will have been spent on the
Tramline proposals, including £23.5m on consultant fees.
Despite
the Scottish Parliament having given their approval, concern over costs
continues to be expressed in the columns of the Edinburgh Evening News.
Yellow ribbons have been tied to trees in the Roseburn Corridor as a mark
of protest. |
|
Timetable
The
timetable, now, at March 2006 is:
|
May 2006
|
Parliamentary
Bills to be passed. |
|
Summer 2006 |
Tenders for
construction of the tramlines. |
|
Summer 2006 |
Traffic
Management Plan to be drawn up. |
|
Sept 2006 |
Councillors
consider the final business case and decide whether to go ahead. |
|
Autumn 2006 |
Business Case
presented to Scottish Executive. |
|
Dec 2006/Jan
2007 |
Gas pipes and
water mains to be moved. |
|
Autumn 2007 |
Laying of
tram lines begins. |
|
Early 2010 |
Testing of
trams on the network |
|
1 July 2010 |
First day of
operation |
|
2015 |
Further
phases of network completed. |
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News
March 30, 2006, pp.6-7 |
|
35.
Update: May 2006 |
|
Trams Boss leaves
It was
announced on May 9 that Ian Kendall, Head of the Edinburgh Trams project,
has had his contract terminated amid fears that there may be further
delays in the scheme and that TIE may miss the Autumn 2006 deadline for
presenting a business case to the Ministers of the Scottish Parliament.
Ian
Kendall is an Australian who has managed previous team bids including
Manchester, Leeds and the London borough of Croydon. He was never
formerly employed by TIE but had a contract with TIE in the name of his
own management company.
TIE
Chief Executive, Michael Howell has now taken temporary control of the
project. He claims that the project is still on schedule to meet the
2010 deadline for operation.
Edinburgh Evening News
May, 2006 |
|
Ian Kendall has been replaced by Andie Harper, a
former director of London Underground who saw the completion of the London
Underground's Jubilee Line.
However, Ian Kendall is also being retained by
TIE as a private consultant for at least the next 3 to 6 months.
Edinburgh Evening News
May 25, 2006: p.9
Edinburgh Evening News
June 14, 2006, pp.1-2 |
|
36.
Update: June 2006 |
|
Chairman leaves
A second
high profile departure from TIE has been announced.
Michael
Howard, Chief Executive of TIE is to leave in July 2006 and to move to
London to become Chairman of the City & Guilds of London Institute.
Willie
Gallagher, who was appointed TIE Chairman in early June 06, is to take on
most of Michael Howard's duties.
The TIE
project has continued to have problems, missed deadlines and technical
design problems, but Michael Howell claims: "Things are in good shape."
Edinburgh Evening News June
14, 2006, pp.1-2 |
|
Two
further departures from TIE have been announced.
Project Director, Alex Macauley, is expected to
leave and Assistant Project Director, Willie Fraser has resigned for
personal reasons.
However,
Edinburgh Council leader, Donald Anderson, remained optimistic saying:
"I am very confident TIE and the council are in a much better position to
deliver the project than ever before."
Edinburgh Evening News
June 16, 2006, p.6 |
|
New Chairman's Comments
Shortly after taking up his appointment as TIE
Chairman, Willie Gallagher spoke to the Edinburgh Evening News:
Here are some extracts from Willie Gallagher
comments to the News:
- TIMESCALE: "We will make that deadline
(June 2010). There's a lot of key events to hit in the next few
months"
- ROUTE CUTBACKS: "What we have now is a
sensible route, the characteristics of which support the wider rail
transport network. It operates where you have high volumes of people
wanting to move to parts of the city to work or visit."
- POSSIBLE FURTHER ROUTE CUTS: "At
this point we are going with the route that everyone is aware of. If
there are parts of the system where the costs don't recognise the
benefits, then that would have to be looked at.
Truthfully, I don't see the Airport to
Newbridge section happening. We are gung ho about all the rest and
are pushing hard."
Will we ever build a Newbridge link or a link
between Granton and Leith? I think, no because if we had the money
to do it, then there are other bits - such as the Western General Hospital
link that we would do first."
Edinburgh Evening News
June 23, 2006: pp18-19 |
|
37.
Update: September 2006 |
|
Construction Delays
Work to
remove gas pipes and water mains along the routes of the trams was
expected to begin in January 2006 but has now been put back until at least
March or April 2007, due to delays in drawing up contracts.
There is
concern that the work may be delayed until after the Local Council
Elections in May 2007. Digging up roads would be likely to result in
disruption and congestion, which would be unpopular with voters.
TIE
confirmed that the first trams are now expected to carry passengers in
2011, with the first trams being tested from early 2010 onwards.
Edinburgh Evening News: Sep 29, 2006, p5
AND Herald & Post, October 5, 2006, p9 |
|
38.
Update: September 2006 |
|
Advertising Campaign
TIE has
launched a £100,000 advertising campaign to "win the hearts and minds"
of the Edinburgh public. There will be advertising in newspapers, on
the radio and on buses and bus shelters with the message:
"It's Time For Trams."
Edinburgh Evening News: Sep 29, 2006, p5 |
|
39.
Update: November 2006 |
|
Business Case
Edinburgh Transport Forum is to host a public meeting on trams on November
29, 2006.
A
business case is being developed for the trams, to be voted on by the City
of Edinburgh Council on December 22, 2006, then submitted to the Scottish
Parliament for approval of funding.
By
Christmas 2006, it is expected that £62m will already have been spent on
the proposals for Tram Lines One and Two.
The
design detail for the project will not become available until January 2007
at the earliest.
Edinburgh Evening News
November 28, 2006, p12 |
|
40.
Update: November 2006 |
|
Project Director leaves
After
only six months in his position as Project Director, Andie Harper,
formerly of London Underground, has decided not to renew his contract with
TIE, for personal reasons - difficulty in commuting between Warrington and
Edinburgh
He will be the 4th senior person to have left the
project this year.
- May 9, 2006: Ian
Kendall, Project chief.
- Jun, 2006:
Michael Howell, Chief Executive.
- Dec 22, 2006: Andie Harper, Project
chief.
Edinburgh Evening News
November 29, 2006, p5 |
|
41.
Update: December 2006 |
|
Tram Line 3 - Guided Busway
Tram
Line 3, from the City Centre to Newcraighall, via Cameron Toll and the
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France was shelved indefinitely when
the Council's proposals for congestion charges were defeated in the
referendum of April 2005.
However,
the Council has now announced a feasibility study into a guided busway
along the land already safeguarded for Tramline 3 between Cameron Toll and
the ERI. This could be the first step towards the council long-term
wish to create Tram Line 3.
The
feasibility study is not likely to be completed before 2008.
Edinburgh Evening News
November 29, 2006, p5 |
|
42.
Update: December 2006 |
|
Charities support Tram Lines
Eleven
charities and conservation organisations have now come out in support of
trams for Edinburgh, and are encouraging Edinburgh Councillors to vote in
favour of the proposals on December 21, 2006
They
favour trams on the grounds that they will be less polluting and better
for the environment than buses.
The organisations concerned are:
- Capability Scotland
- The Cockburn Association
- Friends of the Earth Scotland
- National Trust for Scotland
- RSPB, Scotland
- Scottish Association for Public Transport
- Scottish Environment LINK
- Stop Climate Chaos
- TRANSform Scotland
- Voluntary Health Scotland
- WWF Scotland
Edinburgh Evening News
December 16, 2006, p2 |
|
43.
Update: December 2006 |
|
Compensation to Shops
Following lengthy negotiations between TIE and the Edinburgh Chamber of
Commerce, it has been announced that shops that see their profits fall as
a result of disruption caused by preparations for Edinburgh's trams, will
be given cuts of up to 80% in their business rates.
Edinburgh Evening News
December 20, 2006, p19. |
|
44.
Update: December 2006 |
|
Businesses support Tram Lines
Seventeen organisations including some of Scotland's largest businesses
have signed a letter to be sent to all councillors, urging them to back
the proposals for new tram lines at their meeting on December 21, 2006.
The organisations include:
- Standard Life
- Scottish Widows
- Marks & Spencer
- Oracle
- Edinburgh Airport
- Forth Ports Authority
- Edinburgh International Conference Centre
- Edinburgh University
- Heriot Watt University
- Telford College
It is expected that:
- Tram Line 1, from Leith to Edinburgh
Airport will open in December 2020
- Tram Line 2 to Edinburgh Waterfront will
open one year later.
Edinburgh Evening News
December 19, 2006, p17 |
|
45.
Update: December 2006 |
|
Council Votes 'Yes'
Edinburgh Councillors at their Meeting on December 21 overwhelmingly
supported the business case to be submitted to the Scottish
Parliament in favour of re-introducing trams to Edinburgh.
Only one councillor, Deputy Lord Provost Steve
Cardownie (Nationalist) voted against the proposals. Kate Mackenzie
(Conservative) abstained.
Edinburgh Evening News
December 22, 2006, p5 |
|
46.
Update:
January 2007 |
|
New Appointment
Matthew Crosse has been appointed to take charge
of the Edinburgh trams project, replacing Andrew Harper who left in 2006.
Matthew Cross is founder of independent
management consultancy 'Strategic Lines' based in Derbyshire, and has
worked on several tram schemes in the UK including Nottingham, Croydon and
Midland Metro.
Edinburgh Evening News January 16, 2007: p.9 |
|
47.
Update:
March 2007 |
|
Draft Business Case Approved
The Scottish Executive has its given its approval
in principle to the draft business plan for Edinburgh's trams. A
final business case will be assessed in the autumn
It has also been confirmed that those over age 60
and the disabled will be able to travel free on the trams.
Work to Begin
Work will to begin on diverting the water, gas
and electricity pipes away from the proposed tram route. The first
street to be dug up, as a trial site, will be Tower Place, Leith,
beginning on April 2, 2007. Work on this section of the line will
stop over the Easter holidays and should be completed by mid-May 2007.
City Leader, Ewen Aitken said:
"We've been talking about and preparing for
trams for years. But now is the time to make it a reality and
actually start work on the ground.
I promised that we wouldn't let the small
matter of an election get in the way of this important project and we've
delivered on that."
It is estimated that the tram line between Leith
and Edinburgh Airport will be completed by Christmas 2010.
Edinburgh Evening News March 16, 2007: p.2
Edinburgh Evening News March 31, 2007: p.6
|
|
48.
Update:
April 2007 |
|
Lack of Support
Local and Scottish Parliament elections are due
to be held on May 3, 2007.
Ahead of these elections, Mike Graham of radio
station 'Talk 107' hosted a pre-election debate before an
all-ticket audience of 250.
The 'Evening News' reported that transport
issues were high on the agenda.
Labour, Lib Dem, Tory and Green
politicians all spoke in favour of the trams; SNP's Steve Cardownie was a
lone voice in opposition. However, in the audience, less than
a third of those present supported the proposed tram scheme.
Edinburgh Evening News April 18, 2007: pp.10-11 |
|
49.
Update:
April 2007 |
|
Tunnel Problems
The 'Evening News' reported that the
extent of the network of tunnels beneath the roads between Leith and
Haymarket has taken engineers by surprise.
These tunnels about 3 ft wide, 6 ft high, were
built to enable mechanics to service the cables that hauled cable cars
through the streets of Edinburgh. Cable cars operated in Edinburgh
between 1888 and 1923.in the early 1900s.
Edinburgh Evening News April 19, 2007: p.9 |
|
50.
Update:
May 2007 |
|
Scottish Parliament Elections
The
Scottish National Party emerged as the leading party with 47 seats, but
not an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament elections held on May
3, 2007.
The
number of MSP (Members of the Scottish Parliament elected at this election
and at the first Scottish Parliament election held in 2003 was:
|
|
2007 |
2003 |
|
Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party |
17 |
18 |
|
Scottish Green
Party |
2 |
7 |
|
Scottish Labour |
46 |
50 |
|
Scottish Liberal
Democrats |
16 |
17 |
|
Scottish National
Party |
47 |
27 |
|
Scottish Socialist
Party |
0 |
6 |
|
Independents and
other parties |
1 |
4 |
|
TOTAL |
129 |
129 |
|
|
SNP oppose the Trams Proposals
Scottish National Party MSP, Kenny MacAskill,
said, on May 9:
"Our opposition to the trams is absolute.
... We are determined that trams go because, locally, they are not
wanted and, nationally, we world rather the money is spent on other
schemes."
He claimed that if the SNP takes control of Holyrood, they would simply
stop the funding both for Edinburgh's trams and the proposed rail link to
Edinburgh Airport, and would use the saving of £1.1bn for other transport
improvements across Scotland.
Politicians from the Labour, Lib Dem, Tory parties and the Chamber of
Commerce were all quoted in the Evening News expressing their opposition
to the SNP's stance.
Edinburgh Evening News May 9, 2007: pp.1,7 |
|
51.
Edinburgh City Council Elections
The
number of councillors in Edinburgh City Council, following the elections
held on May 3, 2007 is now:
|
|
2007 |
previously |
|
Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party |
11 |
13 |
|
Scottish Green
Party |
3 |
0 |
|
Scottish Labour |
15 |
30 |
|
Scottish Liberal
Democrats |
17 |
14 |
|
Scottish National
Party |
12 |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
58 |
58 |
|
|
Edinburgh Council will continue to
support Trams Proposals
Twenty three years of Labour power in Edinburgh
ended today when it was announced that:
- the SNP and Liberal Democrats have formed a
coalition to run Edinburgh City Council. (Together they hold 29 of
Edinburgh's 58 seats.)
- the Tories have pledged not to oppose the
election of a Lib Dem Lord Provost next week. (The Lord Provost
holds the casting vote.)
The
Liberal Democrats say that, despite the SNP view on trams, they (the
Liberal Democrats) will continue to support Edinburgh's tram proposals.
Schemes
more likely to hit problems under the new regime are proposals to sell off
the Meadowbank Sports Centre and granting of approval of the proposed
Caltongate development in Waverley valley.
Edinburgh Evening
News May 11, 2007: pp.1,8,9. |
|
52.
Update:
May 2007 |
|
Work Interrupted
The £60m
roadworks to divert utility cables and pipes from under the route of the
trams began before Easter. It stopped, as planned, during the Easter
holiday period, but is now not expected to begin again until July 2007.
However,
a spokesman for TIE claimed that the work is still on schedule and pointed
out that off-street work, including construction of the new tram depot at
Gogar is continuing.
Meanwhile, politicians in other parties are considering the approach
likely to be taken by the Scottish Parliament as First Minister, SNP
Leader, Alex Salmond continues to oppose trams for Edinburgh.
Edinburgh
Evening
News May 25, 2007, p.9 |
|
53.
Update:
May 2007 |
|
Pressure on SNP to Support Trams
Business
leaders, MSPs from all opposition parties, and City of Edinburgh
councillors all made appeals to SNP leader, Alex Salmond, today, to change
his mind and support Edinburgh's proposals for trams.
Labour,
Liberal Democrat and Tory parties joined forces to force an amendment in
the Scottish Parliament, demanding that the trams project "should not
be arbitrarily delayed or cancelled" but this did not have the desired
effect. The SNP accepted the amendment, claiming that any delay or
cancellation would not be arbitrary!
A survey
by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, which represents 1,700 companies in
Edinburgh found that 75% of the businesses are still in favour of
trams for Edinburgh.
Charles
Hammond, Chief Executive of Forth Ports Authority said:
"Economically, socially and
environmentally, the tram is absolutely pivotal to the regeneration
of North Edinburgh"
Other
business leaders spoke in favour of the trams. Some of Edinburgh's
major businesses have come together to place adverts in The Scotsman
and The Evening News, setting out the arguments in favour of trams.
Edinburgh Evening News
May 30, 2007, p.13 (survey)
Edinburgh Evening
News
May 31, 2007, pp.6-7 (other news) |
|
54.
Update:
June 2007 |
|
SNP Suggest Alternatives to Trams
Alex
Salmond, First Minister and SNP Leader has promised that a full review of
Edinburgh's tram scheme is to be presented to Parliament. The review
is to be carried out by Audit Scotland, who will review the process used
to assess costs and risks of the project. The review is due to be
completed by June 20, 2007.
Expressing the views of the SNP, he said he
favoured:
- guided bus lanes on much of the tram
route
- initiatives to use hybrid fuels
- improved ticketing
- installation of real-time information on
all bus stops
- better park-and-ride sites.
A guided
but route to Edinburgh Airport was planned in the 1990s, but abandoned in
2001.
Independent Lothians MSP, Margo MacDonald says she will consider tabling a
motion of no-confidence in Mr Salmond if he ignores the will of parliament
over trams.
Edinburgh Evening News, June 6 2007,
p.2 (The Review)
Edinburgh Evening
News,
June 1, 2007, p.2 (other topics) |
|
55.
Update:
June 2007 |
|
Building Work Continues
Despite
the SNP's declared intention to scrap two major transport systems for
Edinburgh - the trams and the rail link to Edinburgh Airport
- building work for the to create a new £3m tram depot to the north
of Gogar roundabout is continuing.
TIE say
that £79m has already been spent on the trams project, and the total cost
would b e £114m if it were abandoned.
The Scotsman, June 4, 2007: pp1,4,5 |
|
56.
Update:
June 2007 |
|
Edinburgh Councillors' Views
Following the elections held in May 2007, power in Edinburgh's Council
rests with the SNP / Liberal Democrats coalition.
Jenny
Dawe is the leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, and also
council leader. The Liberal Democrats are in favour of trams for
Edinburgh.
Steve
Cardownie is the leader of the SNP on the council, also deputy council
leader. The SNP are opposed to trams for Edinburgh. Steve
Cardonie suggests that there should be a referendum on the subject.
The SNP
and Liberal Democrats know each other's views on trams. They say
that they have not found the need to discuss the subject since their
coalition on the council was formed in May 2007.
The Scotsman, June 4, 2007: pp1,4,5 |
|
57.
Update:
June 2007 |
|
Audit Report
"The Scheme is Sound"
The headline in Edinburgh Evening News on
June 20, 2007, referring to Edinburgh's tram proposals read:
"Get on with it!"
The
paper announced that the report by Audit Scotland to the Scottish
Parliament, had been published today and had concluded:
- Edinburgh's trams are likely to arrive on
time, early 2011, and on budget.
- Edinburgh Airport Rail Link is unlikely
to meet its target date of 2011.
The SNP
have declared that they will continue to oppose both the trams and the
rail link. However, opposition parties have all declared their
support for the trams, so if the opposition parties unite at next week's
vote in the Scottish Parliament they are likely to defeat the SNP and so
allow the trams to go ahead.
Edinburgh Evening News, June 20, 2007:
pp.1,5 |
|
58.
Update:
June 2007 |
|
Business and Educational Support
Two days
ahead of the vote in the Scottish Parliament, leading Edinburgh businesses
and educational institutions have declared their support for the trams.
Those
declaring their support include:
- Edinburgh University
- Telford College
- Standard Life
- Edinburgh Principal Hotel Association
- Harvey Nichols.
Others have declined to comment. Notably:
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Bank of Scotland
Edinburgh Evening News, June 25, 2007:
page 7 |
|
59.
Update:
June 2007 |
|
'Yes Vote' in Scottish Parliament
MSPs
voted in favour of pressing ahead with Edinburgh's trams, voting in favour
of the scheme, 81 votes to 47.
Following this vote, the Scottish Executive declared that they would
support the scheme, but they would not foot the bill for any extra cash,
should it be needed.
Metro, June 28, 2007: page 9 |
|
60.
Update:
July 2007 |
|
Engineering Work to Begin
Engineering work, diverting electricity, gas and water supplies before the
tram tracks are laid, will begin at Ocean Drive, Leith Docks, next week.
Metro, July 2, 2007: p.10 |
|
Proposed Work
Willie Gallagher, Chairman of TIE has announced
that in preparation for the trams:
- Engineering work will begin in
Leith Walk on August 6, 2007.
- Engineering work will begin in
Princes Street in October, 2007.
- Pavements on Princes Street are to
be narrowed.
- Leith Walk will be reduced to one lane of
traffic each way with the trams running down the middle of the street.
- Many of the parking spaces along
the route will be removed.
- The Sherlock Holmes statue in
Picardy Place is to be moved.
Edinburgh Evening News, July 24, 2007:
pp.1,6,7 |
|
Timetable
Today,
TIE announces a full timetable for work over the next 18 months.
The
preferred bidders for the vehicles and line building are due to be
announced in September 2007.
Edinburgh Evening News, July 24, 2007:
pp.6-7 |
|
61.
Update:
July 2007 |
|
Station Names
Transport Edinburgh Ltd (the firm that will operate the city's trams and
buses) has revealed a new map of the route, with station names. Some
of the stations have been re-named:
|
Old name |
New name |
|
Ocean Drive |
Port of Leith |
|
South Gyle |
Balgreen |
|
Granton Waterfront |
Saltire Square |
|
Granton Square |
Granton |
|
West Granton |
West Pilton |
Edinburgh Evening News, July 24, 2007:
pp.6-7 |
|
62.
Update:
July 2007 |
|
A Strong Case for Line 3
Willie
Gallagher, TIE Chairman said that the case for Line 3, a line to the New
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and possibly on to Portobello and Musselburgh,
was still strong and that city leaders should start planning for this now.
Edinburgh Evening News, July 24, 2007:
pp.6-7 |
|
63.
Update:
July 2007 |
|
Street Closures for Cars
It is proposed that, in order to accommodate the
trams:
- Shandwick Place will be open only
to trams, buses and taxis.
- Constitution Street, Leith, will be
open only to trams.
TIE will release a final design of the tram route
in August 2007.
Edinburgh Evening News, July 24, 2007:
pp.6-7 |
|
64.
Update:
July 2007 |
|
Ticket Machines
Ticket
machines are now being installed on the pavements at selected points
mainly in the city centre. More will be installed early 2008.
The
machines can be used from mid-August 2007 onwards to buy tickets for buses
but will be adapted when the trams arrive to sell both bus and tram
tickets. There will be no facilities to buy tickets on board the
trams.
Both
trams and buses are likely to be branded under the same name and to be in
the same colours.
Edinburgh Evening News, July 24, 2007:
pp.6-7 |
|
65.
Update:
August 2007 |
|
More Utility Pipes Found
Workers
have dug trial holes before preparing to move the utility pipes from under
Leith Walk. Despite a four-month scanning and mapping survey having
been carried out in 2006, the workers have found three times the number of
pipes that they expected.
TIE say
that they had been prepared for this discovery and that it will not delay
the introduction of trams ot Edinburgh.
|
|
Schedule of Work
The schedule for work on re-routing the cables
is:
- August / September '07: Leith Walk
- October '07: Princes Street
- November '07: Haymarket
- December '07: Edinburgh Park
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News, August 27, 2007:
p.4
Edinburgh Evening News, August 30, 2007:
p.17 |
|
66.
Update:
September 2007 |
|
Edinburgh's Trams
The
first images of how Edinburgh's trams will look were released today.
The proposed livery matches the new livery for Lothian Buses - a red
and yellow harlequin pattern on white:
©
There will be 27 trams, each able to carry 250
passengers at up to 49mph. They are to be built by the Spanish firm,
CAF - the company that supplied the trains for the London Heathrow
Express. |
|
Tickets and Inspectors
Passengers will buy tickets from roadside machines before boarding the
tram, or pay a penalty fare on board.
There
will be inspectors on all tram journeys, to act as a point of contact for
passengers and to check tickets,
There will be remote controlled partitions to
close off parts of the trams at quieter times. |
|
Edinburgh Evening News, September 20, 2007:
pp.1, 7 |
|
67.
Updates:
October 2007 |
|
Business Case
The new Business Case for Edinburgh's trams has
been prepared. It estimates that the trams will be delivered on time
with the service operating from February 25, 2011.
The total cost is estimated to be £498m
- £47m less than the £545m available (£500m from the Scottish
Government and £45m from Edinburgh Council).
This raises hopes that it will be possible to
also build phase 1b, from Haymarket to Granton by the end of 2012. A
decision on phase 1b will be made in 2009.
The business case estimates that the cost of
building phases 1a and 1b will be £585m, down £7m from the previous
official estimate. It is expected that 11m passengers will use the
trams in their first year.
Edinburgh Evening News, October 18, 2007:
p.5 |
|
Tram Routes
The best way to accommodate trams cars and cycles
in Leith Walk is still under discussion. It is proposed that trams
will run down the centre of the street and that the roundabout at the top
of Leith Walk will be replaced by a T-junction. It is also proposed
that:
- The pavement on the south side of Princes
Street will be narrowed.
- Shandwick Place will be only open to
trams and buses
- Constitution Street, Leith, will be
partially closed
- Torphichen Street will be re-opened to
traffic in both directions
Final
designs for the tram route are due to be published, early 2008.
Edinburgh Evening News, October 19, 2007:
p.6 |
|
68.
Updates: November 2007 |
|
Leith Walk Clock
The clock that stands in the roundabout at the
junction of Leith Walk and London Road was removed this week to enable the
roundabout to be converted to a 'T-junction' to make way for the new tram
route.
The clock has been put into storage and will be
replaced somewhere in the area, its exact position not yet decided, once
the tram line is complete.
The 1857*
clock was previously located at the West End of Princes Street, beside
what is now Fraser's store, but it has been in its present position for
the past 40 years. |
|
*
A later article in the Evening News
(Dec 15, 2007: p3)
gives a date of 1897 for the clock. |
|
Edinburgh Evening News, November 19, 2007:
p.3. |
|
69.
Updates: November 2007 |
|
Sherlock Holmes Statue
The Sherlock Homes Statue, a short distance away,
in Picardy Place, close to the top of Broughton Street is also to be
removed. This will be to make way for a tram / bus interchange.
|
|
Edinburgh Evening News, November 19, 2007:
p.3. |
|
70.
Updates:
January 2008 |
|
Road Closures
Roads affected by the preparation work for
Edinburgh's trams include:
- Shandwick Place: to be closed for 5
months from mid-Feb 2008
- Princes Street to be reduced temporarily
to one lane in each directions.
- St Andrew Square.
All work
should be completed in time for the Edinburgh Festival in August 2008.
Edinburgh Evening News, January 9, 2008:
pp.1,11. |
|
UPDATE:
Shandwick
Place was closed from early-March 2008. The diversions worked well.
This was followed later in the year by
major diversions around Leith Walk and at Haymarket. |
|
71.
Updates:
January 2008 |
|
Monuments to Move?
It may become necessary to move the large statues
of George IV and William Pitt from the centre of George Street, in order
to allow buses and other traffic, diverted from Princes Street, to
flow more smoothly along George Street.
The statues have been in their present positions
since 1922 and 1833 respectively.
Edinburgh Evening News, January 9, 2008:
pp.1,11. |
|
UPDATE: The diversions are now
in place. It was not necessary to move the statues. |
|
72.
Updates:
March 2008 |
|
Fixed Price for Line 1b to Granton
TIE has secured a fixed price of £87m to build
tram line 1b, between Roseburn and Granton, provided it can commit to the
project by Spring 2009.
If TIE do not take up this option, it will have
to pay a penalty fee of £3.2m.
TIE has put a project team together to consider
the funding of this line, and hopes that the line will be open by the end
of 2012.
Edinburgh Evening News, March 13, 2008:
p.5.. |
|
UPDATE: Funding
of line 1b has been dependent of TIE's £96m contingency fund remaining
available. However, the Evening News reported on April 22, 2008,
that the strength of the euro against the pound had resulted in a £30m
loss for the project, that would have to be met from the contingency fund. |
|
73.
Updates:
March 2008 |
|
Caledonian Ale House - demolition
Caledonian Ale House at Haymarket, built in 1862
and known as the Haymarket Station Bar until 1995, was compulsory
purchased two years ago. It is to be demolished next month to make way for
the new tram line.
Edinburgh Evening News, March 15, 2008:
p.9. |
|
74.
Updates:
August 2008 |
|
Bus Subsidy for Trams?
A confidential report has been leaked to the
Evening News, revealing that one way being considered to provide the
additional £55m needed to build line 1b from Roseburn to Granton is
subsidy from Lothian Buses.
Senior councillors have opposed this idea, and
Lothian Buses chief executive, Neil Renilson, has said "I can
categorically confirm that [we have] no plans to increase bus fares to
generate funds for the construction of the tram."
An Edinburgh council spokesman has confirmed that
selling the council's shareholding in Lothian Buses is not an option, but
has refused to rule out a "fare levy" to help to meet the cost of the
trams project.
Edinburgh Evening News, August 25, 2008:
pp.1,5 |
|
UPDATE: The Evening News
announced on March 20, 2009, that from 2011 onwards, Lothian Buses (which
would then become part of Transport Edinburgh Ltd) would have to
hand over £5m pa to offset losses on the tram line in its first few years
of operation. |
|
75.
Updates:
September 2008 |
|
Leith Walk
The first tram tracks are due to be laid in Leith
Walk in January 2009. The pavements are to be made narrower, to give
a wider road with tram tracks running up the middle of the road.
TIE said: "We hope this phase of the project
will be better received by people because they will actually see something
being built."
This follows months of problems for businesses in
Leith Walk and Constitution Street, who have seen falls in trade as a
result of the tram works and have been compensated with up to £4,000 each
and a 20% reduction in rateable values for most shops. Around
two-thirds of TIE's £2m allocated to paying compensation has already been
handed out.
Edinburgh Evening News, September 18, 2008:
p.7.
Edinburgh Evening News, September 19, 2008: p.12. |
|
UPDATE 1: The Evening News
reported on January 20, 2009, that the first length of track is now
expected to be laid in Princes Street in April, rather than in Leith Walk
in January. A TIE spokesman said that its resources had been
allocated to other parts of the route following a negotiated works embargo
on Leith Walk over the festive period.
TIE insisted that their work was still on schedule and that they intended
to have a full tram service running by July 2011.
|
|
UPDATE 1:
Phil
Wheeler announced, in early March 2009, that tracks would not now be laid
in Leith Walk until early-Autumn, 2009. |
|
76.
Updates:
October 2008 |
|
Princes Street - closed
Traffic in the centre of Edinburgh ground to a
halt for up to an hour on the first day that Princes Street was closed to
traffic between Hanover Street and Frederick Street..
Following crisis talks between the council,
Lothian Buses and TIE, buses are to be allowed back onto Princes Street
westbound and possibly also eastbound from today, until a working solution
can be found.
Edinburgh Evening News, October 2, 2008:
p.4. |
|
UPDATE: Another attempt will
be made, with effect from Sunday October 5, to close the section of
Princes Street between Hanover Street and Frederick Street. Traffic
light sequences have been changed and it is hoped that traffic will flow
more smoothly this time. |
|
77.
Updates:
October 2008 |
|
Trams to Gorebridge?
TIE have proposed that the northern section of
the proposed Borders Rail link should be operated by trams rather than
trains.
Edinburgh Evening News, October 2, 2008:
p.4. |
|
UPDATE: Another attempt will
be made, with effect from Sunday October 5, to close the section of
Princes Street between Hanover Street and Frederick Street. Traffic
light sequences have been changed and it is hoped that traffic will flow
more smoothly this time. |
|
78.
Updates:
November 2008 |
|
Tram Boss departs
Willie Gallagher, who was appointed executive
chairman of TIE in June 2006, has announced that he will be leaving TIE
for family reasons.
This announcement comes after recent problems
with road diversions in the centre of Edinburgh, and some slippage of the
tram timetable, particularly for the tram depot at Gogar. However,
TIE say that the problems can be resolved within the current budget.
This follows the announcement, last month, that
Neil Renilson, chief executive of Lothian Buses and Transport Edinburgh
Ltd, the company that will operate both trams and buses in Edinburgh, is
to retire early at the start of 2009.
Edinburgh Evening News, November 13, 2008:
p.1.
Edinburgh Evening News, November 14, 2008: pp.4,5.
. |
|
UPDATE: Another attempt will
be made, with effect from Sunday October 5, to close the section of
Princes Street between Hanover Street and Frederick Street. Traffic
light sequences have been changed and it is hoped that traffic will flow
more smoothly this time. |
|
79. Updates:
November 2008 |
|
Line to Granton - not to go ahead?
Edinburgh council insists that no final decision
has yet been made on whether or not Line 1b from Roseburn to Granton is to
go ahead. But sources close to the project believe that there
will not be sufficient cash available to fund it.
The pace of developments at Granton and on the
Waterfront has slowed down as a result of the economic climate, so it
would not be surprising if it was decided not to proceed with Line 1b at
present. This line could be built later, but a better business case
might be made for building Line 3 to which would run to the SE to the new
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
TIE had anticipated receiving £25m towards the
trams from developers with projects close to the line but, to date, only
£3m has been received.
Edinburgh Evening News, November 13, 2008:
p.1.
Edinburgh Evening News, November 14, 2008: pp.4,5.
. |
|
UPDATE (February 20, 2009):
The project has an overall funding pot of £545m (including £96m which is
regarded as a contingency reserve). The total cost of the project is
now estimated to be £512m, but in addition contractors are demanding a
further £50m to 80m before they start work on Princes Street. TIE
are refusing to pay this additional amount.
£500m of the £545m total has been
provided by Transport Scotland. Edinburgh Council had hoped to raise
the balance through developers' contributions and land sales. |
|
UPDATE (April 24, 2009): Edinburgh
Council announced today that the Roseburn to Granton line had been
officially shelved, following the property market downturn. Council
leader, Jenny Dawe, said "We will revisit this as soon as the economic
situation improves." but it is not expected that the line will be
resurrected within the next few years. |
|
80.
Updates: December
2008 |
|
Princes Street and Mound - closed
Princes Street may be closed to traffic for eight
months in 2009 - from February to November, with a break for the Festival
in August, to allow the track to be laid.
The Mound is due to close again from January 17,
2009, to allow utility work to be carried out before the tram lines are
laid in Princes Street in March 2009.
Edinburgh Evening News, December 11, 2008:
p.5. |
|
UPDATE:
xxx |
|
81. Updates:
February 2009 |
|
Contractors demand £50m to £80m
Just as
traffic diversions are being implemented to take traffic off Princes
Street, to allow tram work to proceed, the tram project consortium BSG has
demanded an additional £50 to £80m before they begin work on Princes
Street. TIE have refused to pay, so the Princes Street work will not
begin on schedule.
However,
it is now too late to cancel this week's diversions, so they will go
ahead, while TIE and the contractors continue to negotiate terms.
The BSC consortium comprises the firms:
- Bilfinger Berger
- Siemens
- CAF.
If the
dispute cannot be resolved, transport chiefs are considering finding a
replacement for the German firm, Bilfinger Berger, but if parts of the
project need to be put out to tender again, it is feared that this could
put back the whole project by up to a year.
Edinburgh Evening News, February 20, 2009:
pp.4, 5.
Edinburgh Evening News, February 21, 2009:
p.4. |
|
UPDATE 1: It was reported on
February 25, 2009, that officials had demanded immediate action from
Bilfinger Berger, and had threatened to sue the company if it failed to
comply. |
|
UPDATE 2: There have
been some calls for the whole tram project to be abandoned, in the light
of the current dispute, but this is not thought to be a viable option.
To
date£215m has been spent on the project. If the whole project were
to be abandoned at this stage, it is believed that a further £100m of
costs would be incurred. |
|
UPDATE 3: On March 6,
2009, The Evening News reported that in view of the still unresolved
problems in Princes Street, it might be necessary to delay the opening of
the tram line to the east of Haymarket and begin with a line that ran
between the Airport and Haymarket. |
|
UPDATE 4: On March 13,
2009, it was announced that if the dispute with Bilfinger Berger was not
resolved within the next six days, arbiters would be called in. |
|
UPDATE 5: There have
been some calls for the whole tram project to be abandoned, in the light
of the current dispute, but this is not thought to be a viable option.
To
date£215m has been spent on the project. If the whole project were
to be abandoned at this stage, it is believed that a further £100m of
costs would be incurred. |
|
UPDATE 6: The amount
demanded by Bilfinger Berger was subsequently reported to be about £20m -
considerably less than the £50m to £80m originally reported.
The dispute with Bilfinger Berger has been resolved in a last-minute deal
negotiated on March 20, 2009. Work on the project in Princes
Street can now resume.
However, Bilfinger Berger claims that there are still around 100 other
issues to be resolved, and that these are likely to push up costs. |
|
82. Updates:
February 2009 |
|
Model Tram
A full
size model tram has been set up outside Jenners in Princes Street.
It will be staffed and open to visitors for the next seven weeks, daily
from 11am to 4pm.
Edinburgh Evening News, February 23, 2009:
p.2. |
|
UPDATE (June 14, 2009): By
March 12, 41,000 people had visited the model tram in Princes
Street. Its stay there was extended. It was then moved to
Constitution Street, Leith. Now, it is standing outside the main
entrance to Ocean Terminal at Leith Docks. |
|
83. Updates:
February 2009 |
|
Critics' Comments
An
article in the Evening News contrasted the official views, expressed by
TIE and critics' comments.
TIE
claims that the tram project is still on schedule and on budget.
Critics claim that it may end up to two years late and £250m over budget.
Critics
say that:
- a large water main under the site of the
proposed tram depot at Gogar had not been spotted on the initial survey,
and that there had been a delay of several months as TIE and Scottish
Water work out how best to move it.
- there have been delays in the utility
work being carried out at Haymarket, particularly moving another water
main. Work is also behind schedule in building a viaduct to bring
the trams up to street level at Haymarket.
- utility work in Princes Street should
have been completed in 2008, but is still ongoing. Further delays
may result if a turning table at the foot of Lothian Road, used by the
previous tram system has to be dug up.
- there has been a delay in laying
the first track in Leith Walk. It was due to be laid in January
2009, but the Leith Business Association does not expect to see it laid
until June 2009, two years after the tram work in Leith Walk began.
Edinburgh Evening News, February 23, 2009:
p.2. |
|
84. Updates:
March 2009 |
|
Dispute Resolved
The
dispute with Bilfinger Berger has been resolved.
It is
understood that only ten days' delay has resulted from the dispute, so it
is now expected that the street can be re-opened for the duration of the
summer and winter festivals.
Edinburgh Evening News, March 23, 2009:
p.2. |
|
UPDATE: It was announced on
May 6, 2009, that Princes Street will, in fact, remain closed to
traffic during the Edinburgh Festival in August 2009. This should
enable the street to be opened again by early November, in time for
Christmas and Hogmanay visitors.
Historic Scotland is looking at the possibility of Holyrood Park being
used for the Festival Cavalcade in 2009. |
|
85. Updates:
April 2009 |
|
TIE - New Chief Executive
Richard
Jeffrey, a former managing director of Edinburgh Airport and the current
president of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce , is to take up the post of
chief executive of TIE next month.
Richard
Jeffrey is currently working with international investment advisory
business, Babcock and Brown
Edinburgh Evening News, April 2, 2009:
p.2. |
|
86. Updates:
April 2009 |
|
Princes Street - to be pedestrianised?
The transport diversions to cope with the
temporary closure of Princes Street to all traffic have led the council to
consider whether it might be a good idea to permanently ban:
- all traffic except trams and cycles from
Princes Street, or perhaps
- all traffic from George Street.
Princes Street Traders' Association favours the
pedestrianisation of Princes Street. George Street Association
favours the pedestrianisation of George Street.
Edinburgh Evening News, April 15, 2009:
p.8. |
|
87. Updates:
June 2009 |
|
Nine-Month Delay
The
Evening News reports that work to create the new Gogar tram depot at
Gogar, which is on the critical path for the tram project, is currently
running 9 months behind schedule.
Problems
include a huge water main that runs through the site and delays by
Transport Scotland in reaching a final decision on plans for a new railway
station at Gogar.
So, if
nothing can be done to catch up, the Edinburgh trams are now not expected
to start operating until Spring 2012, and are very unlikely to be
delivered within their £545m budget.
Edinburgh Evening News, June 20, 2009:
p.1 and other pages |
|
88. Updates:
June 2009 |
|
Princes Street unlikely to be Pedestrianised
In his
first interview after taking over as the city's transport leader, Gordon
Mackenzie announced that it would put too much pressure on George Street
in the long term if buses and taxis were to continue to use George Street
and Princes Street were to be pedestrianised.
He
reported that there had also been concern amongst the traders in both
George Street and Princes Street about the possible pedestrianisation of
Princes Street.
Edinburgh Evening News, June 24, 2009:
p.7 |
|
89. Updates:
July 2009 |
|
Two Years behind Schedule
John
Carson, former head of Miller Civil Engineering claims that work at Gogar
depot is not 9 months behind schedule as TIE had claimed last month, but
now 2 years behind schedule.
He
believed that completion date for the tram project was likely to be
"closer to 2014 than 2012" and that the total cost of the project could be
closer to £1bn than £545m.
TIE
responded, saying that John Carson had taken information out of context,
and that it was expected that the delay to the project as a whole
would be only a matter of months.
Edinburgh Evening News, July 3, 2009:
p.6 |
|
90. Updates:
July 2009 |
|
Sherlock Holmes Statue Moved
The
Sherlock Holmes statue has been removed from Picardy Place to allow a tram
stop to be built there. The statue will be put back nearby when the
work is completed.
Contractors were surprised to find a stainless steel time capsule
beneath the statue. The statue was erected in 1991 by the Federation
of Master Builders to mark their 50th year. Members of the
federation who know the contents of the time capsule have vowed not to
reveal the details.
Edinburgh Evening News, July 8, 2009:
p.6 |
|
91. Updates:
July 2009 |
|
Railway Station at Gogar
Network
Rail has submitted plans for a new station to be built at Gogar, at an
expected cost of £34-37mtrain. This would allow rail passengers to
transfer to the trams for Edinburgh Airport.
Network
Rail are to hold exhibitions and consultation of their proposed plans for
Gogar. The exhibitions will be at the Gyle Shopping Centre on July
29 and August 14.
Edinburgh Evening News, July 20, 2009:
p.13 |
|
92. Updates:
August 2009 |
|
Pedestrianisation Later
The
result of a feasibility study into the possible pedestrianisation of
Princes Street are awaited.
Marshall
Poulton, the council's head of transport said that one of the options
being looked at was the pedestrianisation of parts of George Street and
Princes Street, but no such measures would be brought in until at least a
year after the trams were up and running.
Edinburgh Evening News, August 12, 2009,
p.13 |
|
93. Updates:
August 2009 |
|
Over Budget and Late
TIE
admitted, for the firs time today, that the tram project may not com in
within its £545m budget., and said that it might now be 2013 before trams
start running.
The
final cost is not known. A senior council source said that there
were around 400 outstanding disputes with contractor Bilfinger Berger.
One source estimated that the council might have to meet a shortfall of
£90m.
Edinburgh Evening News, August 14, 2009,
pp.10-11 |
|
94. Updates:
September 2009 |
|
Trams due to be delivered - to
Croydon!
Edinburgh's first trams are due to be delivered in spring 2010, but the
Gogar depot will not be ready to accept them, and there is likely to be no
track to test them on, so TIE is currently discussing sending the trams,
first, to the London borough of Croydon.
TIE
chiefs added that they will be taking delivery of the 27 trams ordered for
lines 1a and 1b, despite the second route being dropped. "The
extra vehicles will ensure more regular services", they said.
Edinburgh Evening News, September 8 2009,
pp.1,5 |
|
95. Updates:
October 2009 |
|
Over £550m - but running in
2012?
Costs
for the tram project now seem almost certain to exceed £550m. TIE
has estimated that the total cost will be £524.5m PLUS whatever whatever
TIE has to pay out to the contractors that it is currently in dispute
with.. However, the bill could soar as Bilfinger Berger are believed
to be looking for a further £80-100m for the project.
However,
Richard Jeffrey, TIE Chief Executive said that 2012 was "a realistic
and achievable date for completion".
Edinburgh Evening News, October 1, 2009,
p.5 |
|
96. Updates:
October 2009 |
|
Tunnel Unearthed
Tram
workers have unearthed a section of a disused underground tunnel
constructed around 1821, under Princes Street near the foot of the Mound.
The
tunnel. The Crawley Tunnel, used to carry a water supply from the
Meadows to the foot of the Mound and possibly on to Scotland Street.
TIE have
been working closely with John Lawson, curator for archaeology for the
city. They say that the discovery of the tunnel will not result in
any adverse impact on their programme.
Edinburgh Evening News, October 17, 2009,
p.6 |
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97. Updates:
November 2009 |
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New Appointments
It has
been announced that:
- Richard Jeffrey, Chief Executive of the
tram firm TIE, is to be appointed Chief Executive of the company that is
to be responsible for Edinburgh's trams and buses, Transport Edinburgh Ltd
(TEL). He will also join the Board of TEL.
(Lothian Buses and TIE are due to merge by 2012
to form TEL.)
- TIE Board Member David Mackay will become
a Board member of TEL, and on January 1, 2020, he will become the new
Chairman of Lothian Buses.
- Ian Craig, Managing Director of Lothian
Buses is to join the Board of TEL.
Edinburgh Evening News, November 27, 2009,
p.5 |
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98. Updates:
November 2009 |
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Princes Street Opens to Traffic Again
After having been closed to traffic for nine
months, and following recent hectic activity by contractors in Princes
Street over the past few days, TIE handed back Princes Street to the city
at 7.30a on Sunday November 29, just two hours later than scheduled.
Tracks have now been laid from the south of
Waverley Bridge to South Charlotte Street,. Buses, taxis and cycles
have now begun to use Princes Street again.
There will now be no more major tram works in the
city until January 4, 2010 - when work will re-commence on Leith Walk.
Edinburgh Evening News, November 30, 2009,
p.5 |
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99. Updates:
November 2009 |
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Cycling on Princes Street
There have been complaints that the removal of a
cycle lane from Princes Street, together with the cobbles and tramlines to
contend with, have resulted in dangers for cyclists.
One cyclist posted footage of his crash on You
Tube, after pedalling along Princes Street with a camera mounted on his
handle bars.
Edinburgh Evening News, November 30, 2009,
p.5
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100. Updates:
December 2009 |
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Tram Line 3
Tram Line 3 is now being discussed again. This
is the line from the East End of Princes Street, via Cameron Toll and the
Royal Infirmary to Newcraighall.
This is one of the lines that was originally
proposed, then shelved following the 'No' vote on the council's proposed
congestion charges in 2005.
The council believe that this line would be
important in attracting companies to become established in the new
'BioQuarter beside the Royal Infirmary at Little France.
This line does not yet have approval from the
Scottish Government, and it is unlikely that any funding could become
available before 2012.
Edinburgh Evening News, December 10,
2009, pp. 8-9 |
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101. Updates:
December 2009 |
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Cycling on Princes Street
Complaints from cyclists about the re-opened
Princes Street are continuing. One cyclist wrote a letter to the
Evening News, beginning:
"Cycling east along Princes Street for
the first time since work had finished, I soon realised how terrifying he
new tram lines are. All it would take is a momentary lapse of
concentration and I'd have plunged into the gaping groove, wrecked my bike
and found myself under the wheels of a bus."
Edinburgh Evening News, December 17,
2009, p.16 |
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102. Updates:
December 2009 |
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Cycling on Princes Street
Danny
Callaghan wrote:
"On Saturday I crossed over
Princes Street which has now been open to buses & taxis for 3 weeks and
noticed that the tarmac alongside the tram lines is breaking up
already.
So there will be more than just
tram lines for our cyclist friends to contend with - great big
pot holes.
I would suggest to our cycling
friend they should not have any momentary lapses of
concentration while cycling on any road, as cars, buses and lorries are
very hard and are likely to damage more than their bike."
Danny Callaghan: Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: December
21, 2009 |
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Update
Others
have also noticed that the road surface broke away from the tram lines,
almost immediately after the tram lines were laid, especially near the
foot of the Mound.
The
contractors say this has happened because there was heavy rain in the days
leading up to the re-opening of Princes Street, so the laid the new road
surface without including the sealant between the surface and the rails.
They are going to go back and fix the problem.
Peter Stubbs: December 21, 2009
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103. Updates:
December 2009 |
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Road Works - Shandwick Place
"It has been announced that
Shandwick Place, a busy shopping street leading to the west from the West
End of Princes Street, is to close on January 4, 2010 and is expected to
remain closed until mid-2011.
Traders have expressed
disappointment at the length of this closure. They had previously been
told that the road would open again at the end of 2010."
There is also uncertainty as to
whether or not the track-laying work will go ahead on schedule, as TIE is
currently in dispute with its contractor over this part of the route.
During these road works,
eastbound traffic will be diverted along Manor Place and Melville Street.
Buses heading west will use the Western Approach Road and Morrison Street.
Edinburgh Evening News: December
22, 2009 |
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