The past few weeks have seen more advert changes on Edinburgh Trams. We have previously reported on how both 256 and 275 received new adverts as 256 got a full wrap for National Museum of Scotland and 275 received a partial advert for Edinburgh Gin. And now 254 has had a change of advertiser with it receiving a colourful wrap for Rabbie’s Tours.
254 had previously had a partial advert for The Famous Grouse: Spirit of Rugby, which had been on the tram to August 2023. But now two years later and its time for a change and it is certainly an advert which catches the eye. No boring one dark colour here with it featuring many a different colour promoting the tour operator with the slogan “Book today, leave tomorrow”.
This will be the fourth advert on 254, and its first full wrap (save for the ends). It is one of the trams which has never advertised C R Smith with the first ad being for Parabola My Edinburgh Park (June 2018-August 2020) then Edinburgh Park (October 2020 to August 2023) and finally The Famous Grouse (August 2023-August 2025).
As for the other two recent new adverts its been a case of extremes for how long these trams had been carrying their previous adverts. 256 had been seen with a partial advert for CR Smith since May 2018 (just over seven years) whilst 275 had been in a full wrap for Philadelphia for only around a month. They’ve also swapped types of adverts as well with 256 now carrying a full wrap for National Museum of Scotland and 275 a partial ad for Edinburgh Gin. For 256 this is its second advert whilst 275 has now carried eight.
On 27th July 2025 256 is spotted in its wrap for National Museum Scotland on Ocean Drive as it heads to Newhaven. It is just passing the cruise terminal (out of sight on the left) and we see the Ocean Terminal car park in the background.
One of the full height section of 256 showing just one items you can see at the museum. This is the Hunterston Brooch which is 1300 years old.
Some more of the detail of 256’s advert.
A similar colour is used as the basis of 275’s new advert for Edinburgh Gin. Here it is at McDonald Road with a service to Newhaven.
275 again as we see the two full height sections. The advert is promoting Edinburgh Gin’s distillery and shop which is only 5 minutes from Princes Street.
The new advert for 254 is seen here on Princes Street with a service to the Airport. The many, many colours are seen in this view.
Another image showing 254 in its Rabbie’s Tours advert. Its just calling at Haymarket in this image on its way to the Airport. This was one of he Oasis concert days with the trams once again the ideal way to get to Murrayfield Stadium. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood)
Hi – why is British Trams on Line celebrating adverts? Luckily I came to Edinburgh in the early days of the trams and was able to photograph them in their proper livery. That would be impossible now. Even worse when the windows are plastered with contravision so that you can’t see out properly. I had this on a bus in Jersey recently – my first visit and I would have liked to see the surroundings. I see there’s another post on this subject so I’m not the only one complaining!
I wouldn’t say that British Trams Online is actually celebrating adverts, it simply informs us of the presence of the adverts. I’m no fan of these schemes but do realise that they bring in revenue to either the network promoter or operator and as such make a positive contribution to operating costs.
Documenting the adverts certainly which is a useful resource, but definitely not celebrating…
In any case I don’t think the opinions of a vocal few on an enthusiast website will ever outweigh the commercial resources of the many advertisers…