It has been confirmed that tonight (Wednesday 4th December) will see the first tram to run down Princes Street as part of the continued testing of the new Edinburgh Trams system. Following Mondays (see article – http://www.britishtramsonline.co.uk/news/?p=5849) successful tests between Edinburgh Park and Haymarket the last section of line down Princes Street and onto the terminus at York Place will now see its first tram movements which will mean, finally, at long last, the whole Edinburgh Trams system will have seen a tram on it.
The test run is due to start at approximately 2300 and should be completed by 0400. Drivers have been reminded not to park on or near to the tram lines but have been warned if they do a tow truck is on standby to remove their vehicles. The test runs will be undertaken at walking pace so that engineers can check that everything is in order on this section of the tramway.
Cllr Lesley Hinds, City of Edinburgh Council’s Transport Convener, said: “We recognise it’s been a long road getting here and there’s been a lot of frustration but there has been progress more recently and, at long last, it’s good to know there’s a tram approaching Princes Street. This is a vital phase of our push to get trams up and running and it’s important that the contractors have the time and the space to carry out these tests and checks. Everyone needs to get used to the trams as they become part of daily life in Edinburgh. Testing will step up a gear early in the New Year and we’ll extend our ongoing safety campaign to ensure all road users are aware of how to share the city safely with trams.”
Once this test run is completed it is likely that there will be very few further runs before the New Year after which time a major increase in testing will be seen along the whole of the line between the Airport and York Place. The current plan the Edinburgh Trams project team are working to will see the first passenger journeys in May 2014, although there remains the chance this date could be bought forward.
That’s good news. I look forward to seeing some pictures.
Jamie
The last time electric trams were introduced to Princes Street, things moved a little quicker. Edinburgh became the last British tramway to install centre poles along a thoroughfare.
Sunday 22nd October 1923 was a notable day in the conversion form cables, the work in Princes Street achieved in the space of a few hours, despite an inability to do much advance preparatory work. Preliminary work commenced before midnight on the Saturday and by the time the last cable car passed along the old track, gangs of employees were hard at work. During the day they had previously laid part of a temporary eastbound track and before midnight workmen began to link it up at the east and west ends. Trams used that track while men relaid rails on the north side that others had shifted to make room for the centre poles. Three separate squads of men worked continuously until the permanent track was ready for use.
Mr Pilcher supervised the work, which proceeded without breaks, regular supplies of sandwiches and hot refreshments making it unnecessary for men to leave their workplaces. The Corporation employed about three hundred workmen, including special squads engaged in pole erection and the subsequent erection of the overhead conductors. Staff had previously delivered poles to nearby positions at the pavement edge, in readiness for placing in position between the tracks. Amid cheers from the watching crowd, many of whom watched the frenetic activity until the small hours, a team erected the first soon after midnight, almost at the foot of the Mound. By half past nine on the Sunday morning, a tram on the Gorgie route passed through, drawing current from conductors supported by thirty poles that a few hours previously had been resting at the kerbside.
The frenetic activity also included reorganisation of cables, electrical connections for the various routes and a street surface lowered beneath a bridge to allow the new, higher tramcars to pass beneath. After a few teething troubles with the northbound temporary track, a full service of cars was running by the Sunday evening.
Perhaps what the present construction team lacks is an entrepreneurial overseer with the aptitude of Stuart Pilcher.
Well said Bob, its not just Edinburgh that could do with a little bottle and forward thinking Tony Stevenson