Trams in Edinburgh are now running more frequently following the introduction of a new timetable on Wednesday 4th January. Previously a trial timetable had been introduced which saw increased frequencies at peak times but extra trams are now being run throughout the day, every day of the week.
The new timetable will see an extra two trams an hour on Mondays to Saturdays between 0700 (0800 on Saturday) and 1900 and an extra three an hour on Sundays (0800 to 1900). Trams will be running up to every seven minutes during these times with the frequency before and after this time being every 10 minutes. A quick calculation suggests that 12 trams will be required to operate this frequency.
Lea Harrison, General Manager of Edinburgh Trams, said: “It is clear that our customers want more services, more often throughout the day so we’ll now be running an extra two trams each hour from Monday to Saturday and an additional three trams every hour on Sundays. The trial went extremely well and certainly supported customer feedback which suggested people wanted to see even better frequencies. Our customer satisfaction ratings are exceptionally high and we want to keep them that way so we’ll always look to make improvements where we can.”
265 crosses South Gyle Broadway – and about to enter Gyle Centre stop - en route to the Airport.
Posters are up at stops to publicise the new timetable. (Both Photographs by Ray Calderwood)
Interesting that they’re increasing tram frequency when last week Scottish news headlines read “Edinburgh Trams Running three-quarters empty”. Until they resolve the
Edinburgh trams fare zoning anomaly whereby it’s dispropotionately more expensive to travel by tram to Airport, I don’t forsee any increase in passengers carried.
I was in Edinburgh today (6th Jan) and can confirm there were 12 trams in use. And I have to agree with the above comment by Alasdair. The huge difference in fares just to go that one extra, but all important stop to the airport, will make a big difference in passenger numbers. I saw many people at Haymarket where the tram stop is joined to the bus stop, avoiding the tram in favour of the Airport Bus.
Is the additional fare the doing of Edinburgh trams or is it the airport authorities who are imposing it?
Easy answer. It’s Edinburgh Council through Edinburgh Trams.
Ken,
Fare staging making it more expensive to travel byn tram to Airport is Edinburgh Council directive to Edinburgh Trams. As far as I’m aware airport authoritiesw had no input.