Monday 28th March saw the return of trams to York Place as services on Edinburgh Trams started to run between West End and St Andrew Square again. Trams had stopped running beyond West End on 10th February to allow work to progress on demolishing the old York Place stop and although this has now gone forever trams are running to where it once was again to use the crossover to allow them to switch tracks and reverse back to the Airport.
From now until spring 2023 trams from the Airport will run to St Andrew Square (except at times when Princes Street is closed) which becomes the new Edinburgh City Centre terminus. But with no crossover being located here trams still have to go around the corner to York Place to change tracks with this operation now in place. The crossover was unavailable during the demolition of the stop and the joining up of tracks between the current and new line which had meant services were terminating at West End – the closest place with a crossover.
It had originally been anticipated this closure would be in place until April but with better than expected progress made it was possible for a resumption of services to St Andrew Square to happen slightly earlier than planned.
No excuse for not realising services are ending at St Andrew Square! This large poster is in the shelter at St Andrew Square.
262 has just arrived and terminated at St Andrew Square. It will soon move forward and turn the corner to use the crossover in York Place. The buses in the left background are the open toppers of Edinburgh Bus Tours and Bright Bus Tours who use the north side of St Andrew Square as their terminus. Their previous terminus was at Waverley Bridge but the Council largely pedestrianised Waverley Bridge in June 2020. Trams once went round all four side of the Square.
271 has left the stop and now rounds the curve to York Place. Red sandstone Scottish National Portrait Gallery on the left. Dublin Street goes down hill beyond tram. The hills of Fife across the Firth of Forth in the distance.
253 is seen on York Place approaching the site of the former terminus where it will reverse. Destination board shows St Andrew Square where any passengers disembarked. Note “Trams are about” banner on post on right.
271 is at the site of former York Place stop ready to return to Edinburgh Airport. The new westbound track in the foreground (for trams from Newhaven and Leith) built over line of former platform. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood, 6th April 2022)