It has been confirmed by the City of Edinburgh Council that ticket prices on the tram network will match the equivalent fares on Lothian Buses. This will mean that single tickets will cost between £1.50 and £4.50 with a network wide all day ticket (valid for travel on both the tram and buses) will be £8.
There will be three different levels of single ticket available: the £1.50 (70p for children) fare will cover the city area only, the £2.50 (£1.50 child) ticket covers the section up to an including Ingliston Park and Ride and the most expensive single ticket is £4.50 (£2.50 child) which enables passengers to travel the entire length of the route.
The only return ticket available is to and from the Airport and this costs £7.50 for adults and £4 for children. A range of day tickets will also be on offer and these cover journeys on all buses and tram journeys. Once again there are three types of these: city only – £3.50(children £2), Ingliston Park and Ride & city – £5 (child £3) and whole network including Airport – £8 (child £4.50). It has also been confirmed that Ridacards (pre-pay tickets) will be valid on Edinburgh Trams. Users of the National Entitlement Card will be able to use their cards on the tram as well.
Cllr Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The tram will offer a fast, comfortable, convenient and reliable transport option at a very good price. With Lothian Buses, we’ve ensured that the bus and tram ticketing systems are fully integrated for ease of use and to keep costs low. Ridacards and day tickets will be usable across bus and tram while a single ticket will be the same price across both. Like most cities there’s an airport supplement and this is part of the business model to ensure the service is cost effective in operation. With the end of tram works nearing and a passenger service in sight this is the perfect time to develop a new approach to transport in our city. With their existing knowledge and expertise Lothian Buses is ideally positioned to thrive with the tram and I’m very pleased that we’re working in partnership with them.”
* Meanwhile Councillors are to discuss a proposal to rename the Shandwick Place stop West End – Princes Street at a meeting next week following pleas from local traders. It is felt that this name will better describe where the stop is and encourage more shoppers to alight there.
£7.50 for an end-end return ticket!!!!!!!! I can buy an all day ticket on Manchester Metrolink for £4.70 that enables me to travel the entire system, which is considerably larger than Edinburgh’s!
The farce continues!!
Airport supplement – will that also be levied on Metrolink when the line to Manchester Airport opens?
Of course not Nigel, though our city, our Met and out airport are immeasurably larger than that of Edinburgh the day saver and saver tickets will cover the whole network and always have .We started the Met 22 years ago with one line running from Bury in the north of the City to Victoria and lines have been added throughout the past two decades. Good luck Edinburgh !