Could Edinburgh get a tram-train line as well as its already established conventional tramway? If campaigners have their way it could with the South Suburban railway being considered for reopening as a tram-train line. A recent public meeting held at Edinburgh City Chambers showed there was a great deal of support for the plans, energising the group to continue with their campaign.
The Edinburgh South Suburban line (“The South Sub”) was opened in 1884 but has not seem regular timetabled passenger services since 1962 (although remains Network Rail owned and used for freight and diverted services). It runs for 12.3km between Murrayfield Stadium and Portobello going via Craiglockart, Morningside, Newington, Cameron Toll, Craigmillar, Fort Kinnaird and Brunstane.
The campaign to reopen it started off with a team of engineering students at Heriot-Watt University in their final year who after months of research have tabled a proposal to introduce Scotland’s first battery-electric tram-train network.
Corey Boyle, final-year MEng Civil Engineering student, Corey Boyle, said: “The system we propose is called discontinued electrification. That’s an alternative to a full route electrification like we see used on the Edinburgh trams. As they’re battery electric vehicles, they can run on sections using battery alone and then switch to overhead lines at certain points. This way, it helps keep costs down and gets round any potential obstacles, such as low bridges that might otherwise prevent a tram train from receiving power. It is a low-carbon and viable transport option that would see greater connections between homes in the south of the city with the city centre and beyond.”
The plans have now caught the attention of other campaigners in the area and this led to a special public meeting which took place in early October and was attended by 100 people keen to hear more about the plans.
Chair of the Tram Train for Edinburgh (TTfE) campaign group, Rob Falcon, said: “The broad reception was very enthusiastic and we got quite a few people wanting to get involved. I was delighted by the turnout and the strong support shown by the audience during the questions and discussion. The South Sub is a sadly underused public asset which can and should make a significant contribution to better public transport in Edinburgh.”
Lawrence Marshall, TTfE treasurer, added: “Tram-trains are game-changing because they can run on-street in the city centre and on traditional rail lines, and are what makes the difference from previous South Sub reopening proposals. Tram-train services would run westwards from Portobello along the South Sub and connect to the current tram at Murrayfield; they could then continue to both Princes Street and Leith, or Edinburgh Park and the airport.”
The campaigners believe that costs to reinstate the line would be lower because it is also existing. However, it is not currently part of any official transport plan in the city and would need funding coming from somewhere, and with limited cash likely from the Scottish government it is sadly hard to see where it would come from.