Edinburgh trams 'could be running by Christmas'

Date: 3/7/2013

Edinburgh's tram network could be up and running by Christmas, business leaders in the Scottish capital have been told.

As the Scotsman reports, major retailers have been advised that the routes may be ready to support services by mid-December following test runs and mandatory safety assessments.

While the official date at which the network is expected to be operational is summer 2014, City Transport Leader Lesley Hinds admitted that the initiative was progressing quicker than expected.

However, Ms Hinds refused to confirm whether or not the claims were true, despite the director of one store revealing he had been quoted December 15th as the date on which trams would start running.

Another business leader told the news provider: "We have been told by the council that by September we should see empty trams test running on the whole route, or certainly October at the latest.

"This means that the final quarter of the year will be devoted to testing. What is impossible to know is how long testing will take - it's carried out independently - but the often-quoted six-month figure is just an estimate.

"We have been told is that all of the infrastructure would be in a position to go pre-Christmas if this safety certificate is given."

With each tram said to be capable of carrying 250 passengers, it was also suggested that retailers could see a substantial boost in trade if the network is operational before Christmas.

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News