While a lot of discussion in Edinburgh at the moment may be concerned with future extensions it shouldn’t be forgotten that there is one extension which will definitely be happening – the Trams to Newhaven project. Due to start running in 2023 construction work got underway last year with the first tracks being laid in November 2020. Construction has been continuing in early 2021 and despite sub zero temperatures and snow causing a brief suspension last week good progress continues to be made.
There are several worksites currently active as the pace of construction continues to move on and below we see the section between Pilrig Street and Balfour Street, between future stops at McDonald Road and Balfour Street.
This photo is looking straight down the Newhaven bound track (set in concrete base) with the Airport bound track not so far ahead on the right. On the extreme left is Pilrig St Paul’s Church with a Welcome to Leith sign just beyond the worksite barrier. This was the boundary of the City of Edinburgh until Leith was subsumed in 1920. In the far distance we can see Kirkgate House (the tower block) which is almost beside the site of the Foot of the Walk tramstop. (Photograph by Roy Calderwood, 13th February 2021)