EDINBURGH’S trams to newhaven is on track to run services by spring 2023, the capital’s council has announced.
The majority of track has now been laid to take trams to Newhaven as the scheme enters the final phase of construction works – with the City of Edinburgh Council confirming works are within the £207.3 million budget.
More than 3km of track – 70% of the total to be laid – is now in the ground. Furthermore, the main construction work on three of the eight new tram stops is also complete, while over 3km of drainage (66% of the total) and almost 4km (82% of the total) of communication ducting has been installed.
Construction is also ‘largely finished’ on several key sections of the route, other than some localised works, including Constitution Street, between Constitution Place and Queen Charlotte Street, and Ocean Terminal to Rennie’s Isle.
Next week, operational tram stops on Princes Street and St Andrew Square will reopen following their temporary closure. These were closed to allow for the removal of the York Place tram stop and installation of new infrastructure there connecting the existing line to the new one.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, transport and environment convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, said, “It’s clear that the Trams to Newhaven project is well on its way to completion, as these figures show, and before long we’ll be testing trams on the streets of Leith. Next week, we’ll also see the return of the existing service to the city centre, which I’m sure will be great news for many.
“Of course, while this project will bring significant benefits to the area, we know that its construction has impacted all those who live and work nearby, and I’d like to thank them for their patience during the last two years.
“As we enter the final year of work to deliver the tram line, we’ve had to make some changes to the programme due to issues outwith our control. I want to assure communities along the route that we’re doing everything we can to mitigate the impacts of this, and that we’re still on track to begin providing the service by spring next year.”
