With Edinburgh being the centrepiece of Hogmanay celebrations with major events taking place in and around the iconic Princes Street, the trams in the city have to operate a revised service. Before the extension to Newhaven was opened this just meant that trams terminated short, but since trams ran along Leith Walk and beyond a split service has been planned. And that is exactly what happened again – and this time the weather was playing nice and the celebrations didn’t have to be cancelled!
As from approximately 1800 on Tuesday 30th December 2025, the tramway between West End and Picardy Place was shut with the two intermediate stops (Princes Street and St Andrew Square) closed. Trams continued to run Airport-West End, and Picardy Place-Newhaven to allow people to continue to get around as much as possible. Services resumed the full length of the tramway during the morning of the first day of 2026.
The passenger information display at McDonald Road lets any intending passengers know what’s going on. As it states there are trams from every 10 minutes on both sections of the tramway.
No trams! St Andrew Square stop is closed with the PID letting everyone know that is the case.
It’s a bit more obvious at Princes Street with barriers surrounding the closed island platform.
Picardy Place was the temporary terminus for trams coming from Newhaven. Here 276 is seen on the left having arrived at Picardy Place from Newhaven and waits to move on to York Place to reverse. At the other side of the island platform, 262 has arrived after reversing. It will now enter service and proceed to Newhaven. St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral is behind 276 while the modern development on the left is the St. James Quarter.
276 is seen here on York Place having reversed on the crossover. Its just waiting to cross the Broughton Street junction and start picking up passengers again at Picardy Place for the journey to Newhaven. The ecclesiastical building is St. Paul’s and St. George’s Episcopal Church.
259 has arrived from Newhaven and the driver has changed ends and also changed the destination screen as its seen in York Place. The tram is about to use the crossover to start the journey back to Newhaven.
At the other end of the closure and 256 is captured here at West End on Hogmanay after arriving from the airport. Coates Crescent on the right with the spires of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral. The barriers in front of the tram signify it can go no further. Trams at West End use the citybound platform only and then use the crossover after departing for the Airport. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood, 31st December 2025)