Timing is everything in life and Thursday 18th May 2023 probably wasn’t the day (if there ever was a day) you would want the Edinburgh Trams network to be brought to a halt as it had been due to be the first day of timetable testing on the Trams to Newhaven extension but that is exactly what happened. We had reported last night that the testing was scheduled to get underway yesterday but that’s before we knew that overhead problems meant it was a bit of a false start.
The culprit which caused the problems was 273 which had a problem with its pantograph which in turn damaged the overhead in York Place. This meant that the whole tramway was suspended before later in the day it was possible to resume operations between the Airport and West End only. The timetable testing was thus cancelled for the day. Indeed, the work to complete repairs took most of the day with 273 not noted being towed back to depot at around 2100.
This is believed to be the very first time that overhead problems on the network have been caused by a tram which any other issues in the past having been down to external reasons. And on the day they were due to test the timetable through to Newhaven – you couldn’t make it up! At least it wasn’t the first day of passenger services we guess!
The first sign that all was not well. 271 stranded on Princes Street with the power isolated at around 1430.
We don’t often feature one of the maintenance vehicles of Edinburgh Trams but Unimog ET001 was in York Place being used to repair the overhead line damage.
Picardy Place with two trams, one at either platform face. Scenes like this will be repeated soon – although hopefully not because the system is suspended!
The stricken 273 with a close-up view of its pantograph. The top half has now been removed by engineers.
263 at the top of Leith Walk unable to go any further. There were also other trams on the route out to Newhaven. (Photographs x5 by John Hampton, 18th May 2023)
Another view of 263 still stationary on Leith Walk with pantograph down.
Siemens staff and the Unimog set to work on repairing the overhead on York Place at Elder Street.
Two recovery trucks had been called to the scene but they later went with the tram still in situ. The tram is 267 and its St Andrew Square.
West End was used as a temporary terminus until just before 1600. Here 276 leaves the stop and uses the crossover to head to the Airport. (Photographs x4 by Roy Calderwood, 18th May 2023)
Gareth
Caption to first picture should refer to tram 271
You would have thought Edinburgh Trams would have had batteries fitted like their cousins on Midland Metro.
That would have been a good idea although I think it was going to be too expensive back when the trams were built. Having batteries would have avoided the need for the intrusive OLE along Princes Street.
Given that the extra weight of the retro fitted batteries is being mentioned in some circles as contributory to the body cracks, I’d say Edinburgh would do well not to follow…