We’ve said it before on these pages (and will no doubt say it again!) but modern tram systems really come into their own when there are large crowds of people to move. With trams holding around 200 passengers a go (or nearly 250 for Edinburgh) they are mass people movers and when there are events at Murrayfield Stadium it is the only way to get the thousands of people to and from the event. Saturday 10th February 2024 saw Scotland’s first home match in this year’s 6 Nations Rugby Championship take place and in this article we see some of the trams in action.
This is the first of two home matches for Scotland in this year’s 6 Nations with a game against England following on Saturday 24th February when a similar service should be operated. Scotland will be hoping for a better result having narrowly been defeated by France although some may see there was a controversial video referee decision at the very end to deny them.
It may still be around three hours to kickoff as 255 pulls into St Andrew Square at 1137 heading to the Airport. There had been a long gap in services at this point and everyone on the platform is unlikely to be able to get on board 255.
255 has now managed to come around the corner into Princes Street and is now at the tramstop where it is greeted by even more crowds.
255 has gone but not many of the intending passengers have! A rammed Princes Street stop at 1145.
264 now arrives at Princes Street (this wasn’t the next tram but still large crowds remained) to hoover up some more passengers.
Continuing a walk towards Haymarket and we now see 253 at Coates Crescent approaching West End. As its heading to Newhaven its going away from the rugby crowds so it will be an all together calmer journey for the tram.
A number of services from the Airport only went as far as St Andrew Square before using the crossover at York Place and returning to pick up more rugby crowds. 267 demonstrates the St Andrew Square destination at Haymarket; 262 is alongside.
272 and its OVO Energy full vinyl wrap advert is at Haymarket heading to St Andrew Square. The majority of those rugby fans seen on the opposite platform aren’t waiting for a tram but are walking the relatively short distance to Murrayfield Stadium.
268 at Haymarket with a service to Haymarket. On event days like this a portable ticket office is used to help sell tickets and that is seen on the extreme left of this image. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood, 10th February 2024)