Trams could be running to Leith and Newhaven in 2022 following an agreement “in principle” by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Transport and Environment Committee. Meeting on Monday 4th September some concerns were expressed over the plans and the expected disruption along Leith Walk but despite these the plan was voted through. However, this is not the final go-ahead with this not coming until 2018, by which time it is hoped that the Inquiry into phase one will have released a report to allow lessons to be learned for the extension.
Speaking about the decision to press ahead, Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Committee Convener, said: “Today’s decision is a welcome step forward for the tram extension project and follows a great deal of work assessing the benefits, impact and cost of extending the service to Newhaven. During this time all councillors have been given the opportunity to carefully scrutinise and question the detailed business case. Quite rightly, this process will take time, and our robust approach, has been welcomed by councillors from across all parties, will enable confidence as we move forward with the project. As part of this, we have sought independent advice throughout.”
The plans will now be discussed by the full Council on 21st September at which point a decision will be made as to whether to go forward. If the Council vote in favour a start would be made on finding a contractor to build the extension but nothing would be formally signed. This would, hopefully, happen in 2018 by which time it is hoped that the full results Lord Hardie’s Public Inquiry into the problems experienced on building the line from the Airport to York Place would be available by then. It is hoped that these results would assist the councillors into making their final decisions. If the report isn’t ready by then there could be a further delay.
If approved the extension would run for 4.6km between York Place and Newhaven with construction work due to be completed by 2022 allowing the line to open in the second quarter of that year. There would undoubtedly be significant traffic disruption during the construction period with it expected that Leith Walk would be reduced to just one lane of traffic for 18 months. However, it is hoped that the old adage no pain, no gain will hold true here.
The Outline Business Case has confirmed that eight new tram stops will be built at Picardy Place, McDonald Road, Balfour Street, Foot of the Walk, Constitution Street/Bernard Street, Port of Leith, Ocean Terminal and Newhaven. The current terminus at York Place would be demolished to allow for through services but it is planned the line will open to Picardy Place before this happens with single line working in operation.
The extension would have a mixture of shared and segregated on street running including some sections of grassed track around Ocean Terminal. The junctions at Picardy Place and London Road would also be reconfigured to allow for the safe operation of tram and general traffic movements.
It is still early days but it is also proposed that 8 tram per hour will run the full length of the route between the Airport and Newhaven with a further 4 an hour from Haymarket to Newhaven. The service would potentially be increased further from 2032.
It is still certainly early days but we are edging closer to a tram network befitting of a European capital city.
I can’t for the life of me understand what the allure of Newhaven is ! For the most part the proposed tram route is replicated by Lothian Buses service 22, from Gyle – Ocean Terminal where there is little opportunity to generate new custom. OK some of the preparatory groundwork has ben performed along Leith Walk BUT Edinburgh residents don’t have a short memory. Who can forget the shambles that was Shandwick Place where many businesses have yet to return ? Let’s hope that if approved, the same fate does not befall Leith Walk !