In Pictures: Trams to Newhaven testing begins!

Monday 13^th March was a historic day in Edinburgh as for the first time since 1956 a tram ran along Leith Walk. That’s right testing has now begun on the Trams to Newhaven extension of Edinburgh Trams with 258 allocated to the initial slow speed tests starting a little after 2000 and continuing throughout the night and running all the way along the line to Newhaven.

This is just the first stage of testing and commissioning of the 2.91 mile (4.69 kilometres) line and the coming months will see many more tram movements as everything is checked to make sure it is safe and able to be used for the full service. As with all other tram lines within the UK this stage involves a tram travelling at a walking pace to ensure that the line, software and signals work effectively. This will now continue throughout the rest of the week with the complete line in both directions due to be covered.

Cllr Scott Arthur, City of Edinburgh Council Transport and Environment Convener, was understandably delighted: “This is a huge milestone for Trams to Newhaven as we see the first trams on Leith Walk in my lifetime. We’re fast approaching the start of passenger services this spring, and that the project is set to be delivered on time and within budget, despite the challenges of recent years, is testament to the hard work of all those involved. Bringing the tram to Newhaven will be transformative for the area, and the wider city. As well as boosting the economy and providing sustainable, high-capacity public transport to this densely populated part of Edinburgh, the project has significantly improved the entire route, with new cycle links, spaces to relax and spend time and newly planted trees and shrubs. As we enter the final phase of the project, testing and commissioning will make sure the line and infrastructure work safely and efficiently, while also confirming service capacity. Of course, this is the first time there will be trams on Leith Walk and in Leith in recent years so I would urge people to take extra care when in the area.”

Following this first stage of testing, the frequency of tram testing will increase and they will also start to run at higher speeds before finally reaching the full line speed. Eventually daytime testing will get underway and then trams will run to a timetable ahead of services starting in the spring. The project does remain on schedule for opening at an undetermined date in the spring.

Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams, said: “To see one of our trams running along Leith Walk was a proud moment for us, and this latest milestone in the project will enable us to step up our own preparations for the launch of passenger services to Newhaven. This includes real-world driver training on the new section of line following an intense period of familiarisation involving our state-of-the-art tram simulator.”

With testing having started at just after 2000 (much earlier than a lot of these similar tests on other systems) there was quite a crowd gathered to see the tram move slowly along the route – and the tram was even applauded in certain sections! 258 carries adverts for Edinburgh Trams recruitment so maybe it even managed to attract some people to applying for a job on the extended network!

After the tram had run all the way up to Newhaven it then headed back towards the city with it being stabled at Ocean Terminal all day on Tuesday 14th March – possibly a bit of a shock to those going about their daily business!

Trams last ran on Leith Walk on 16^th November 1956 when the original Edinburgh tram system closed so 258 has now become the first tram to run here for over 65 years! Now that is a milestone worth celebrating!

• There is plenty of coverage of the testing across various social media platforms (no secrecy involved in this testing!). Amongst the coverage is video of the tram on the City of Edinburgh Twitter having just left Picardy Place – https://twitter.com/Edinburgh_CC/status/1635372854807232514.

258 has just Picardy Place here as it passes the Playhouse Theatre.

We then see the tram passing the end of Montgomery Street.

The second stop on the extension is at McDonald Road and that is where 258 has reached in this shot.

Onwards the tram goes and here has now reached Balfour Street which is the first stop actually located in Leith. There is quite a crowd of people on the stop.

And then here we see 258 passing the former offices of Leith tram depot. The project team are based here in portacabins.

After making its way to Newhaven the tram then returned to Ocean Terminal where it spent 14th March ahead of more testing that night. Stabled on the city bound track (which heads off to the right of the shot) this is 258 standing at Ocean Terminal. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood)