Sunday 24th November was yet another busy day on the Edinburgh Trams system with Scotland taking on Australia in an autumn rugby international at Murrayfield Stadium. A capacity crowd of 76,000 saw Scotland overcome their visitors 27-13 and obviously that crowd needed to get there and what better way to do that than travel by tram! Roy Calderwood was out to capture some images of the trams and crowds in the city centre.
Its about an hour before kick-off and supporters are making their way to Murrayfield in anticipation of the match. Princes Street is busy, as are the trams, as 255 makes the stop on the way to the Airport which will go via Murrayfield of course. The previous day had seen snow on the ground here yet less than 24 hours later and there is no sign, although it remains cold.
254 is seen here crossing the Hanover Street/Mound junction and arrives at Princes Street tramstop. Its another service which will take crowds to Murrayfield as kick-off approaches.
Princes Street tramstop remains busy but 258 heading to Newhaven is unlikely to help move the crowds as its going away from where most want to go. Royal Scottish Academy is the building on the extreme right while in the far distance, the National Monument can be seen on Carlton Hill.
251 has yet to leave the platform at Princes Street but its already but caught up by the next tram which is 274. The crane above 274 is working on the Jenners building. This is now owned by a Danish multi-millionaire and is being developed as retail space and a hotel.
269 is seen entering Haymarket stop with a Lothian Airlink Express airport bus behind. The original 1842 Haymarket station building is on the right, this was the Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway terminus until the line was extended to what is now Waverley in 1847. Ryries pub – popular on rugby days like this – is just to the right of the bus and the glass towers of the new Haymarket Square office development are in the background.
264 arrives at Haymarket at 1240 en-route to Murrayfield and the Airport. Its just 30 minutes until kick-off but the crowds are still coming with prospective passengers seen on the right, although they could decide to walk to the match instead. A tram marshall on the left is at the official crossing point, although like water, people tend to spread out and cross everywhere at times like this. Edinburgh Trams staff were out in full force on the day, and the ticket booth was again positioned here.
273 in its revised Uniqlo wrap approaches Haymarket on the way to Murrayfield and then the Airport. Clifton Terrace on the left is still busy with those who made the decision to walk while others are drinking outside at the Scots Guards Club behind the traffic lights on the left.
Its not just the trams which help people get to the rugby with Lothian Buses involved too. Lothian Buses 632 is working a part route 31 service here which will terminate at Murrayfield while the 26 behind will also serve the stadium. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood, 24th November 2024)