In Pictures: Trams reach York Place for first time

57 years. That is how long it has been since the last tram ran down Princes Street in Edinburgh city centre, until last night that is! As planned the very first test run between Haymarket and York Place took place overnight on Wednesday 4th/Thursday 5th December and everything seemed to go according to plan, in fact the testing was completed earlier than planned and the tram was able to return to Gogar Depot in the early hours of Friday 5th December before most of Edinburgh stirred for another day.

Just like two days earlier when the first tram reached Haymarket, 264 was chosen to do the honours and it arrived at Haymarket tramstop shortly after 2300 on Wednesday 4th December ready to make it way along Princes Street. With the Police in attendance to make sure nobody got in the way and around 200 onlookers, with many taking photos including the Transport Convener Cllr Lesley Hinds, 264 gently made its way through the centre of Edinburgh with a large number of staff from the project on hand to check every inch of the way that everything was just as it should have been.

Unfortunately the weather was not kind to all those who had turned out for the event but the majority of those present were generally positive about the trams and hopefully this will turn out to be good news when services commence next year.

264 waits at Haymarket stop ahead of making its way along Princes Street. This stop is adjacent to the new Haymarket Railway Station building which is due to open soon.

264 at St Andrew's Square stop.

Made it! 264 basks at the York Place terminus having become the first tram in 57 years to run down Princes Street.

Another view of 264 at York Place with the Conan Doyle pub in the background. (All photos: John Hampton)