TRAM: British and Australian (American usually streetcar also trolley) noun [C] An electric vehicle that transports people, usually in cities, and goes along metal tracks in the road. (Taken from the Cambridge English Dictionary)
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This Page was last updated Sunday 15th July 2007
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WORK COMMENCES ON TRAMS FOR EDINBURGH
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 15th July 2007
As extensively reported previously on British Trams Online the work to divert utility pipes under the streets where tracks will be constructed for the Trams for Edinburgh scheme commenced on Monday (9th July) in the Leith area of the city. The Scotsman have already run a story headlined “Day one of tram project and already engineers are warning of overspend” in which very little mention is made of the costs overrunning except from someone not involved in the project.
The utility diversion program (in the control of Alfred McAlpine) commenced in Ocean Drive, Leith on Monday 9th July and will then move on to a section of Leith Walk between McDonald Road and Iona Street from 6th August and then onwards to the Ocean Terminal shopping centre. 20th August sees another stage of diversion start in Russell Road, Roseburn.
The negative viewpoint of the cost overrun comes from Derek Elder, manager for Scotland of the Institute of Civil Engineers: “You have no idea what is there until you dig a hole. I would accord it a very high risk because there is a danger they will come across something they don't know about, which could be very expensive to move. Even utility firms do not always know what they have."
Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, commented about the tram: “There is no doubt this work will be painful, but it will be pain before gain. However, there was a significant retailing increase along the route of the Dublin tram, and we expect to see similar regeneration along the Edinburgh line. Various rates amelioration and other schemes are in place to help those businesses worst affected, and considerable lengths of the route will not be on main roads."
Meanwhile, it has been reported that as part of the construction teams there will be “tram helpers” whose aim is to smooth things over with the public whilst the likely disruption takes place. They will patrol the affected areas giving out information, sorting out access problems and liaising with the contractors.
One of these helpers is Tom Reid. He commented in The Scotsman: “A lot of the people I speak to maybe are not so sure about the trams or how it will affect them, so it is good to get a chance to explain things. Unforeseen problems will always arise on the day that need to be resolved, and we'll be there to do just that. If I can't help people on the spot, I'll take phone numbers and make sure their problems are sorted out back at the office or I'll go and visit them again. Believe it or not, the feedback on the streets has been mainly positive. I think people are getting used to seeing me about and shopkeepers are always popping out to stop me in the street to ask questions. It is a great way to communicate what is happening, but what I do is backed up by the leaflets and letters that people will be getting."
