There will be several more significant milestones coming up for the Trams to Newhaven project over the next few months – starting with concrete pours before the final track is laid and then the erection of the first sections of overhead line.
The two final concrete pours of the project will be taking place week commencing 3rd October at Rennie’s Isle and Melrose Drive. The pour at Rennie’s Isle will be the longest on the project at 170 metres and once this is completed it will mean track is laid from Picardy Place to Newhaven, leaving only a small section at York Place to link the existing track with the new.
So far 96% of the track has been laid with tram track now running all the way from Picardy Place to Tower Place, 100% of utility diversions have been completed and major civil works finished on five of the eight new stops.
Once all the above is completed attention will turn towards the installation of the all important overhead wires. Before this happens there will be a communications campaign to remind residents, businesses and stakeholders about the changes, including safety requirements and permits needed to carry out any work on properties along the route.
Cllr Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convenver, said: “Both the electrification of overhead lines along the entire Trams to Newhaven route and final concrete pours are major milestones for this important Council project, and signal the final touches being made before we see trams on Leith Walk and beyond. A great deal of work has gone into reaching this stage, as progress on tracklaying, completed sections and other elements shows. That the project is still on schedule for delivery on time and in budget is thanks to the efforts of the entire team involved, who have had to contend with a Covid-related site shutdown and industry-wide labour and material challenges over the last three years. Of course, I’m also appreciative of local residents and businesses for their patience during this time. I’m confident that the finished scheme will be extremely beneficial to the community, transforming the streetscape, boosting the economy and proving reliable, sustainable journeys to and from the city centre.”
The latest press release confirms once again that the project remains in schedule for completion by spring 2023 and within the revised £207.3 million budget. All major construction works will be finished by the end of this year although there will still be some minor, mainly public realm, works to be completed in early 2023. These are not expected to delay the start of testing and commissioning in 2023 though.
Maria Ortega, Project Director on Edinburgh Trams York Place to Newhaven for Sacyr Farrans Neopul (SFN), said: “As contractors on the Trams to Newhaven project we are excited to be reaching these key milestones which are critical to ensuring the delivery of the Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven Line. Our efforts are firmly focused on ensuring that we continue to work in a safe and timely manner to deliver a high-quality end product. As contractors, SFN has brought extensive experience in the light rail sector to this project. Despite the challenges of unprecedented times that we have experienced throughout the life cycle of the project we are proud of the progress we have made by working successfully alongside our partners, supply chain and client.”
Milestones reached on the project so far include:
- Almost 4.5km (96%) of track laid
- 100% of all utility diversions completed
- 3km (93%) of communication ducting installed
- 25km of power ducting installed
- 136 overhead line poles installed (64% of the total)
- Major civil works completed on substations at Leith Walk and Melrose Drive)
- Over 67,000 deliveries from logistic hubs to local businesses
- Almost 28,000 itison vouchers sold, generating £280,000 spend in participating businesses on the route
I have just visited Nice, and spent a good many trips on their excellent three lines of tramway. Some of which is on overhead free battery operation, with is what I can only assume at the stops where there is no overhead a shoe contact with two plates located between the rails for recharging. It struck me that this is ideal system for such as Princes Street in Edinburgh, and possibly other sections. Also The Talbot Road Line in Blackpool.