Our journey along the UK’s newest open tram line continues today as we start to move further towards the centre of Edinburgh.
So far our interactions on the extension from Newhaven with traffic have been relatively limited (although there have been some) but for the rest of the route along Leith Walk and on to Picardy Place it is a very different picture with this being a busy throughfare and lots of traffic lights to halt our progress along the road. After leaving Foot of the Walk we cross Duke Street and make our way along Leith Walk. If your walking your way along the route and are feeling a little peckish or thirsty there are plenty of establishments which will help along the entire length of the road and then we come to Balfour Street.
We’re back to an island platform here with tracks either side. On the platform we have everything we come to expect including shelters, passenger information displays, information panels with timetable and fare details, ticket machines, lighting and CCTV. There is also a crossover at the city side of the tramstop in case of the need for any short running here.
263 is seen just arriving at Balfour Street when bound for the Airport having started its journey back at Newhaven. With the line only having opened a few weeks before the pink “NOW OPEN” labels are on the shelter to let people know.
And we then see the next number up coming in the opposite direction. Its 264 which pauses with a service to Newhaven. Note the tram only lane through the stop and the 20 mile an hour speed limit for traffic alongside. There is also a cycle lane on the left. (Both Photographs by Gareth Prior, 1st July 2023)