The UK’s newest tram stop opened to the public on Sunday 11th December with the first trams calling at Edinburgh Gateway as expected. The new tram stop is provided between Gogarburn and Gyle Centre and features two platforms with full canopies unlike the small shelters provided on most of the rest of the network.
Edinburgh Gateway is a true transport interchange with a railway station also provided on site to be served by trains on the Fife Circle line. Part of the reason for providing the interchange is to give easier access to Edinburgh Airport for passengers from Fife and the north of Scotland who will now just have a quick change onto tram for a short journey instead of having to worry about either getting into Edinburgh or travelling by bus.
Lea Harrison, Edinburgh Trams General Manager, said: “This is an important milestone for our network. We’re all about providing fast, reliable and seamless public transport options and the opening of the Gateway stop will be a real boost for our customers.”
This is the first new stop to open on Edinburgh Trams since opening in May 2014 but will hopefully be the prelude to more expansion in the future.
The newest stop on Britain's tramways is the £41m Edinburgh Gateway Tram/Train Interchange. It was officially opened by the Transport Minister for Scotland, Humza Yousaf MSP, on 10 December and then opened for public use on the following day. The photo shows an unidentified tram at the new stop enroute to Airport with the new Station across the upper part of the picture. The link to the Station is in the brown clad building. There is a pedestrian link passing under the A8 to the Gyle shopping centre.
Tram 251 standing in the new tramstop bound for Airport.
Tram 268 bound for York Place leaving Edinburgh Gateway. The escalators leading to the Station are on the left.
A DMU leaving the Station and heading for Edinburgh Waverley. (Photographs x4 by John Hampton)
The official opening plaque.
6. An unidentified tram calls at the new stop on its way to the Airport. (Photographs x2 by Roy Calderwood)
Is it the first Edinburgh Tram Stop with a full cover?
Looks good
INTERESTING SAFETY ISSUE ON THE LAST PICTURE, PERSON WALKING TOWARDS THE TRAM FROM THE RIGHT, CROSSED ONE LINE. HOW LONG BEFORE A MESS.
NOT TO SURE I WOULD WISH TO WAIT OR TRAVEL TO THIS POINT, VERY ISOLATED APPEARANCE, COLD AND UNWELCOMING VIEWS.
DAVE
In Reply to Dave’s posting here.
Whilst i agree with his sentiment, practice is often easier than what is surmised.
Trams pass each other everyday in platforms with people crossing the tracks…….Nottingham, Croydon et al.
Indeed if you go to Manchester it’s possible to have 4 trams coming at you (a pedestrian crossing the tracks) at once but common sense and tram speeds plus a tram hooter in these locations prevails, otherwise death tolls would be huge.
You say that Gateway is a “true transport interchange”; this is not strictly true as unfortunately there is no interrface with local bus services. Moreover, no provision has been made for car parking the nearest site being Gyle Cetre where it is only available for a limited period. No, your true Edinburgh Bus/Tram/Train interchange is Haymarket, likewise served by trains from Fife but with no suitable available car parking. It’s unfortunate that neither Abellio Scotrail nor Edinburgh Trams have been able to produce revised printed copies of Rail/Tram timetables for the introduction of this new facility.
Surprised that Roy Calderwod was able to include so many passengers. When I visited, Monday 12 December sighted only three travellers in two hours !
Re Fred Fitter’s comment no, the Airport terminus has an “all over” cover. Yes, Gateway DOES have “cold unwelcoming views” as it’s sandwiched between the main Edinburgh – Glasgow road and a retail park (Gyle Centre).
The all-over roof is very welcome. The omission of such (or at least fuller canopies) at tram stops and railway stations mystifies me as I consider robust weather protection rather more important than some of the fancy electronic information devices that seem to get priority.
During my visit yesterday (Monday 12 December) having spent £41M on the facility, it was unfortunate that Edinburgh Trams’ “Real Time” tram information displays were not working.
Just checked the Gallery’s 614 in May & 630 in July, each having a couple of shot showing an open sky above the trams with only a simple shelter on the island platform, has the Airport platforms had an all over cover since?
Fred,
Go back to Gareth Prior’s article dated 8 September 2016 titled “What to do with a mock up tram?” where the acompanying photograph shows the arched roof in place at Airport terminus. It was installed within 12 months of system opening.
Alasdiair
From the photo’s, this is at the end of the platforms and does not cover the platforms or any trams stopped at the tram stop