As we reported a few days, Edinburgh Trams have been operating a reduced service since the start of Thursday 9th July 2026 after a big fire in the former Debenhams store on Princes Street. The road has remained closed ever since and this has prevented any trams from passing leading to no trams being able to run on the Newhaven extension and a part route service only in operation between Airport and West End.
Its not yet known when Edinburgh Trams may be able to at the very least move some trams past the site to get onto the extension and allow them to run a split service. The safety of everyone is the big consideration at the moment and with the building suffering major damage and it expected that it will need to be at least partially demolished its likely to be a while before that can happen.
Until then trams will only be running from the Airport to West End. There is ticket acceptance in place on both Lothian Buses and ScotRail services, but the buses are also impacted with numerous routes on diversion because of the road closure.
This view shows the affected building (109-112) that was that part of the former Debenhams store just beyond the firefighters’ ladder. There is already a gap site between the affected building and the one shrouded in scaffolding, where the 1970s former John Menzies flagship store (latterly occupied by Next) at 107 had recently been demolished. That site and the buildings shrouded in scaffolding (104-6) are being redeveloped for the German owned Ruby Hotel. Debenhams was due to be converted to a Zedwell Hotel. The modern office building on the left at the corner of Castle Street replaced the Victorian era Palace Hotel which was burnt out on 09 June 1991 as a result of arson and subsequently demolished.
St Andrew Square tramstop is usually a hive of activity with tourists and locals alike wanting to catch a tram. But its now one of ten closed tramstops with no sign of any trams running. A member of Edinburgh Trams staff was on duty to help direct would be passengers. (Photographs x2 by Roy Calderwood, 9th July 2026)
262 is seen here at the temporary terminus of West End with its way ahead blocked.
271 departs from West End and uses the crossover to regain the Airport bound platform. This is a move which takes place several times a year anyway when Princes Street is closed for events but this time it was rather unplanned!
Its not just trams which have been affected. Various bus services are also having to be diverted with a very long queue seen here alongside West End tramstop. (Photographs x3 by Oliver Shenton, 9th July 2026)
There’s a bit of a mist enveloping Edinburgh as we see 261 standing at West End having terminated from the Airport. Note the overhead has been isolated beyond the tramstop.
262 also waits at the stop before reversing back to the Airport. The tram has an advert for Square which recently saw a minor amendment.
Carrying an advert for Loganair, 253 is just departing West End with a service to the Airport. Who knows maybe there are some people onboard who will be getting off a Loganair tram onto a Loganair plane! (Photographs x3 by Roy Calderwood, 11th July 2026)